Buffalo Shooting Suspect Indicted by Grand Jury, Will Remain in Custody

Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old charged in the fatal shooting of 10 people at the Tops Friendly Markets store in Buffalo, has been indicted by a grand jury and will remain in custody as he awaits his next court appearance.

During a brief court appearance on Thursday, prosecutor Gary Hackbush informed Buffalo City Court Chief Judge Craig Hannah that an Erie County grand jury indicted Gendron on a first-degree murder charge Wednesday, as reported by the Associated Press.

BUFFALO SHOOTING SUSPECT SET TO APPEAR IN COURT THURSDAY

Gendron pleaded guilty to one count of murder on Saturday but is expected to face additional charges, including attempted murder and state hate crimes. The FBI is also conducting an investigation that could result in federal hate crime charges.

“Payton, you’re a coward!” someone shouted from the gallery as Gendron left the courtroom.

Some of the family members of the victims were in attendance at Thursday’s hearing.

The indictment means Gendron will remain in custody as he awaits his arraignment, which is scheduled for June 9 at 9:30 a.m.

Prosecutors can charge a defendant with first-degree murder in special circumstances, including when multiple people are killed in a single incident, per New York law. The one count of murder against Gendron covers all 10 people who were killed at the supermarket, the outlet reported.

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Gendron is accused of shooting 13 people, 11 of whom were black, at the Buffalo supermarket on Saturday in what officials are calling a racially motivated attack. Gendron allegedly arrived at the store with tactical gear on and livestreamed a portion of the shooting.