Jury Selection Begins in Buffalo in Federal Death Penalty Trial of Tops Shooter Gendron
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Payton Gendron, who murdered 10 Black people at a Tops Friendly Markets store on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on May 14, 2022, enters the penalty phase of his federal case on Tuesday, Oct. 13, as jury selection begins in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York in Buffalo. The federal jury will decide whether he should be sentenced to death.
Gendron pleaded guilty in state court in November 2022 to 10 counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and a hate-motivated domestic terrorism charge. On Feb. 15, 2023, an Erie County judge sentenced him to life in prison — an automatic life term for the terrorism count — plus life on each murder count and 25 years on each attempted murder count, all consecutive. Federal prosecutors are still pursuing their case, alleging the massacre was motivated by a desire to prevent Black people from “replacing” white people and eliminating the white race, and to inspire similar attacks.
It is one of the most closely watched death penalty cases in New York in recent years. Federal prosecutors are seeking death; because Gendron is already serving life without parole in state prison, the federal trial centers on sentencing. The proceedings are expected to last several weeks.
(Source: USA TODAY Network / Press & Sun-Bulletin)
Source: USA TODAY Network / Press & Sun-Bulletin
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 布法罗罗伯特·H·杰克逊联邦法院大楼，CC BY 2.0，作者 xiquinhosilva（Wikimedia Commons）
