Racism-Motivated Shooting In Buffalo New York, 10 Black Citizens Killed

Illustration of shooting using a firearm. (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - As many as 10 people died and 3 others were injured in a shooting at a supermarket in a black neighborhood in Buffalo, New York, United States (US).

The shooting was carried out by an 18-year-old man on Saturday, May 15 afternoon local time. The assailant used an assault rifle and broadcast the action live on the internet.

The incident was allegedly related to the understanding of white supremacists. After carrying out the action the perpetrator wanted to commit suicide but the police managed to thwart him.

According to a Reuters report, local authorities said 11 of the 13 people hit by gunfire were black, the other 2 were white.

Police, who did not give his name, said the attacker was alone, fully armed, and wearing tactical equipment, including body armor.

Buffalo police commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said when confronted by police in front of the supermarket, the suspect put a gun to his own neck. However, the police managed to persuade him to drop his gun and surrender.

Gramaglia said the gunman shot and killed three people in the grocery store parking lot before a gun battle with a former police officer who worked as a supermarket security guard.

However, the suspect continued his actions because he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Meanwhile, the supermarket security guard died at the hands of the suspect.

While the other 9 victims who were shot dead in the incident were shop customers.

Authorities said three of the injured were thought to have survived. The three employees are supermarket employees named Tops Friendly Market.

Shonnell Harris, one of the managers at Tops, said he heard at least 70 gunshots. He said he managed to survive because he ran and fell several times through the back door of the supermarket.

"He looked like he was in the Army," he told the Buffalo News newspaper, describing the attacker dressed in camouflage.