18 year old Payton Gendron, is being held by the police; after carrying out a mass shooting at Tops Supermarket in New York.
According to CNN; Payton Gendron was arraigned in Buffalo City Court; by Judge Craig Hannah and charged with first-degree murder. Payton pleaded not guilty.
US Attorney General Merrick Garland; stated that the Saturday mass shooting; is being investigated as; a “hate crime and an act of racially-motivated violent extremism.”
“We will bring all of the resources of the federal government; to bear on this case.” At a press conference, FBI Special Agent Stephen Belongia stated. “This is the number one priority of the Department of Justice; and I can assure the citizens of this community; that anything we can do at the federal level; with this case will be done. And justice will be served for the victims.”
The New York Times reports; that police are also looking into an online manifesto. Payton’s racist and anti-immigrant manifesto; appeared to be influenced; by the great replacement theory. According to this ideology; non-White Americans/people are on track to replace White Americans.
As he approached the Tops store; Payton reportedly said, “just got to go for it.” The Twitch live-stream footage; also shows an anti-Black slur; written on the barrel of the weapon used in the attack, “Ni**a.”
Twitch confirmed to CNN that Payton used their platform to live stream the shooting. They removed the live stream; less than two minutes; after the attacks began; according to a company spokesperson. Twitch has also “indefinitely suspended” the shooter from its platform.
Payton will appear in court again on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. ET.