Authorities are investigating a mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, as a "racially motivated hate crime".
The attack has left at least 10 people dead and 3 more injured. Per ABC News, 11 of the 13 people shot were Black.
A white 18-year-old male has been taken into police custody as the suspected shooter. According to authorities, the attacker live-streamed the shooting on social media.
The gunman commenced his attack around 2:3o PM in the parking lot of a Tops supermarket, where he opened fire on four people while dressed in military gear, body armor, and a helmet. Of the four that he shot, three were killed.
He then went into the store, where he was confronted by a retired Buffalo police officer who was working as a security guard. Despite being shot and hit by the guard, the shooter was undeterred thanks to his body armor and proceeded to shoot another nine people.
Police arrived quickly on the scene, and the gunman threatened to shoot himself before surrendering to authorities.
The suspect has since been identified as Payton Gendron, a New York resident who reportedly traveled several hours to the Buffalo supermarket.
Both local police and the FBI are investigating the attack as a hate crime - and a form of racially motivated extremism.
Erie County Sheriff John Garcia told reporters that the attack was "pure evil."
"It was a straight-up racially motivated hate crime from somebody outside of our community... coming into our community and trying to inflict evil upon us," he added, per ABC News.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Merrick Garland released a statement explaining that the Justice Department is also investigating the incident as a racially motivated hate crime.
“The Justice Department is investigating this matter as a hate crime and an act of racially-motivated violent extremism. The Justice Department is committed to conducting a thorough and expeditious investigation into this shooting and to seeking justice for these innocent victims," the statement read.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown spoke at a press briefing yesterday, saying: "This is the worst nightmare any community can face."
