Suspect in racist Buffalo mass shooting indicted by a grand jury

The 18-year-old White man suspected of carrying out a racist mass shooting Saturday in a Buffalo, New York, supermarket was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday, according to an affidavit from Erie County Assistant District Attorney Gary Hackbush.

The Erie County Grand Jury voted for an indictment against defendant Payton Gendron, "with regard to the felony complaint filed on or about May 14, 2022," the affidavit states. He previously pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder, and other charges are expected.

The indictment was announced Thursday during a brief court appearance for Gendron, who was ordered to remain held without bail. He wore an orange jumpsuit and a white face mask and was handcuffed and shackled as he walked into the courtroom flanked by officers.

He was ordered remanded in custody for further action from a grand jury and is next expected in court on June 9. Gendron's attorney Brian Parker had no comment.

As Gendron was led away following his court appearance, someone in the packed courtroom yelled, "Payton, you're a coward!"