ROCHESTER, N.Y. — New details show the alleged shooter in the Buffalo Tops grocery store mass shooting that killed 10 people and injured three others may have been considering other cities.
An online post allegedly attributed to the suspect, Payton Gendron, 18, shows the suspect was targeting neighborhoods in Rochester, including the Bulls Head neighborhood and the Tops on West Avenue. Both areas have a large African American community, like the neighborhood where the shooting in Buffalo happened.
Rochester police say they’ve seen a post detailing an attack in Rochester, but didn’t know specifics and add that there’s no current threat to the community.
RPD Lieut. Greg Bello released a statement on Monday:
"As with everyone else in our community, the Rochester Police Department is horrified at the tragic shootings that occurred in Buffalo on Saturday. Chief Smith has been in contact with Commissioner Gramaglia of the Buffalo Police Department and has offered the full support of the Rochester Police Department.
We are aware of social media posts circulating online from the alleged shooter that purportedly indicate locations within the Rochester community. We take these potential threats, and any other potential threat towards the safety of our community, with the utmost importance. The Rochester Police Department is continuing to work with our local, state and federal partners to verify information and act upon it accordingly. Thankfully, the brave men and women of the Buffalo Police Department took the suspect into custody, rendering him no longer a threat to society. We encourage anyone with information regarding any threats towards the safety of our community to please call 911.
The Rochester Police Department will continue to stand by, ready to assist the Buffalo Police Department in any way we can. Any questions regarding Saturday’s tragic events should be directed to the Buffalo Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigations."
The RPD says that if a situation like the shooting at Tops in Buffalo ever happens in Rochester, officers are prepared.
“With the rise of these active shooters, these active killers that are out there, we are trained for it and continue to train our officers regularly,” Bello said.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans says this threat of another attack, shows why we need to continue to care about what happened in Buffalo.
“If not in Buffalo, then he would have done this exact same thing in Rochester,” Evans said. “[It] shows you how sick and demented this individual is.”
