On Wednesday at the Erie County Courthouse in New York, a person was taken away after lunging at Payton Gendron, the perpetrator of the Buffalo mass shooting, during his sentencing hearing.
Barbara Massey, the sister of Katherine Massey who was one of the victims murdered by Payton Gendron in May 2022 was delivering her statement before the court. "I want personally to choke you," said the sister to Gendron.
"My sister Katherine Massey was a great person. Kat didn't hurt anybody," said Massey in her statement. "You are going to come to our city and decide you don't like Black people. Man, you don't know a d--- thing about Black people. We're human."
During this statement, a man in gray clothing attempted to lunge at Gendron, and the authorities had to intervene.
The individual then seized hold of Massey and shoved her away as he leaped toward Gendron and his legal representatives. Amidst the mayhem, a voice could be heard yelling "Don't do it!", and court officers quickly moved in to take control.
The court officers had to take swift action and physically removed Gendron from the court and defused the situation. "You dont know what were going through," said the man as he was escorted out of the courtroom according to the Associated Press.
Gendron was seen crying as family members of those who had been hurt spoke out, one of them calling him "cowardly racist."
The attack took place on May 14th, 2022, ten African-American people were killed and three were injured in a merciless attack of racial hatred in a Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo. The perpetrator, a Caucasian individual, was identified as Gendron.
As the court resumed with sentencing, Judge Susan Eagan said "I am sure that you are all disturbed by the physicality that we've seen in the courtroom here today. I understand that emotion, and I understand the anger, but we cannot have that in the courtroom. She added, "And I am prepared to give anyone that needs to speak an opportunity to speak. And I know that you need to address some of your comments to the defendant. But we must conduct ourselves appropriately because we are all better than that."
John Flynn, the District Attorney of Erie County, instructed court officers to not bring any legal action against the individual who pursued Gendron.
Gendron was sentenced to life in prison without parole. It is expected that Gendron will be moved to federal control on Thursday to face a federal hate crimes charge, according to the official. Depending on whether federal prosecutors opt for the death penalty, he said, the decision will then be made as to where Gendron's term of imprisonment will be served.
Prior to sentencing Gendron had his chance to speak and said, "I did a terrible thing that day. I shot and killed people because they were Black. Looking back now, I can't believe I actually did it," he added. "I believed what I read online and acted out of hate. I know I can't take it back. But I wish I could. And I don't want anyone to be inspired by me and what I did."
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