BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Family members of the victims of the Buffalo Tops shooting filed into federal court Friday morning unsure of the update they'd receive from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Michelle Fryson, who lost her cousin, Margus Morrison, and aunt, Pearl Young, said what she heard was a "gut punch."
"I wasn't expecting that," she said." Never did I ever wish that he would have death penalty. Conversely, I was hoping that he would be able to take some time to process things for a very long time."
That sentiment echoed by family who spoke to the media after the private meeting, including Morrison's brother, Frederick.
"It ain't no personal belief against the death penalty. That would have been a quick, easy way out. You done killed 10 people with no emotion so why would you give him something like that. You just got away with murder," Frederick Morrison said.
Mark Talley, who lost his mother, Geraldine Talley, said he wants the shooter to suffer and if a jury ultimately decides to sentence him to death, that's not suffering enough.
"I would've preferred he stayed right here locked up in county jail for the rest of his life surrounded by people who want to kill him every day," Talley said.
However, attorney Terry Connors who represents many of the families in a civil lawsuit, said at least the decision eliminates some uncertainty and can offer some closure. He said not all his clients felt the same as the ones who spoke to media.
"There was a split," Connors said. "Several of them felt that life in prison was the appropriate sentence. Let him stay there and experience that and there were others that thought the maximum punishment was appropriate in this case. And if not in this case, in what case?"
Talley, despite his disappointment, said the DOJ laid out its reasoning succinctly and offered its support moving forward. He said he understands why the government made the decision.
"I'm pretty sure there's a lot of people that's going to be happy he's finally dying after committing the hatred acts that he did which he does deserve die," Talley said.