Ten dead in attack at supermarket in New York state
Ten people have been killed in a shooting in New York state that is being investigated as a racially-motivated hate crime.
An 18-year-old man wearing military gear was arrested after a stand-off at the scene in the city of Buffalo.
The suspect entered a busy supermarket on Saturday afternoon before opening fire. He used a camera to stream the attack online, police said.
US President Joe Biden condemned what he called an “abhorrent” attack.
“We are investigating this incident as both a hate crime and a case of racially-motivated violent extremism,” Stephen Belongia, the agent in charge of the FBI’s Buffalo office, told a news conference.
The suspect is believed to have driven for several hours to reach the predominantly black area of the city. Thirteen people were shot in total and the majority of the victims were black, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said.
“He exited his vehicle. He was very heavily armed. He had tactical gear. He had a tactical helmet on. He had a camera that he was live-streaming what he was doing,” Mr Gramaglia told reporters.
He said the suspect surrendered his weapon after a tense stand-off and was taken into custody.
The three wounded victims – who all worked at the supermarket – have not sustained life-threatening injuries.
A retired police officer who was working as a security guard tried to shoot the suspect but was among those killed, police said.
The man has since been charged in court with first-degree murder, and Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said further charges may still be brought.
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES