Payton Gendron, the white supremacist who killed 10 people at a Tops Friendly Market in a predominantly Black neighborhood last May was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the attack.
The sentence came after emotional victim impact statements and a brief physical altercation during which a member of the audience lunged at Gendron. Prosecutors say the man will not be charged.
Gendron pleaded guilty in November to one count of domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate, 10 counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted murder and a weapons possession charge in the mass shooting. In an online manifesto, Gendron wrote that he chose Tops Friendly Markets because it was in a predominantly Black neighborhood.
“There can be no mercy for you, no understanding, no second chances,” Judge Susan Eagan said as she sentenced him, according to the Associated Press.
Gendron apologized for causing the victims’ families pain and “stealing the lives of your loved ones.”
“I did a terrible thing that day. I shot and killed people because they were Black,” he said in court. “Looking back now, I can’t believe I actually did it. I believed what I read online and acted out of hate. I know I can’t take it back, but I wish I could, and I don’t want anyone to be inspired by me and what I did.”
But, the case is not over as Gendron faces the death penalty on separate federal charges if the Department of Justice seeks it, AP noted.
