Currents News Staff
Ten people were shot and killed Saturday in what authorities are calling a racially motivated hate crime.
The air is certainly heavy with sorrow as this community continues to mourn the loss of many of their community members.
Yellow tape is still surrounding the grocery store this morning – it will likely be up for some time just given the broad nature of this investigation.
Just a few hours after a heavily armed suspect allegedly pulled up to the grocery store, federal authorities were very quick to say that he was fueled by hate. He got out of his vehicle and very methodically began to shoot people in the parking lot before he went inside.
At the end 13 people were shot, 10 of them killed – 11 of the victims were black.
“This was pure evil. It was straight up racially motivated hate crime from somebody outside of our community, outside of the city of good neighbors, as the mayor said, coming into our community and trying to inflict that evil upon us,” said Sheriff John C. Garcia of the Erie County Sheriff’s Department.
Bishop Robert Brennan issued the following statement via Facebook:
“I am horrified by the senseless act of violence that took place in Buffalo yesterday which has claimed the sacred lives of 10 individuals. In this Sunday’s gospel we hear Jesus’ command to his disciples to “love one another” as He has loved us.”
Brennan’s statement continued, “Let us pray for an end to hate, violence and racism in our country and world. Pray with me for the families of the victims of this terrible act that they may feel the love of God and neighbor.”
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This story will be updated.