A felony hearing for the accused gunman in the racially motivated Tops Market massacre was held Thursday morning in Buffalo City Court but was quickly adjourned after it was revealed a grand jury had already handed up an indictment.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn made the revelation and Judge Craig Hannah quickly adjourned the proceeding.
18-year-old Payton Gendron will be back in court June 9 for his new first-degree murder charge, which covers all 10 fatalities from Saturday's mass shooting at the Tops on Jefferson Avenue. In New York, this charge carries a maximum life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Gendron remains held without bail.
Many of the victims’ family members were present for the proceedings.
In a written statement on Thursday’s developments, Flynn indicated he will not comment until there’s a report following an investigation by the grand jury.
Authorities have previously said they are investigating potential hate crime, terrorism, and racially motivated violent extremism charges.
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