Heartbreaking stories of Buffalo shooting victims whose lives were cut short

The nation is in mourning, as victims of Saturday’s supermarket slaughter in Buffalo are slowly being identified and remembered on social media.

Pearl Young, 77, ran a local food pantry in her community and spent her Saturdays in Central Park, feeding those in need. A former substitute school teacher, Ms. Young was shopping at Tops Friendly Market when the shots rang out.

“You don’t expect this when you mother goes grocery shopping,” Pamela Pritchett, Ms. Young’s daughter, told the New York Post.

“On a warm day like yesterday, she’d go grocery shopping and take the bus back home,” Pritchett said.

“She taught men like him,” she added, referring to the alleged shooter, 18-year-old Payton Gendron.

https://twitter.com/madisonlcarter/status/1525685844635533315?s=20&t=dbP6e2OR9UzJVYN9HYaRwg

Ruth Whitfield, mother of former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield, had also stopped by Tops. At 86 years old, Commissioner Whitfield said Ruth was at the nursing home “every day taking care of my dad, shaving him, cutting his nails, cleaning his ears, cutting his hair, washing him, bathing him… making sure his room was decorated for holidays. She dedicated her entire life to her family but specifically the last eight years to him”

“Yesterday she was leaving the nursing home, stopped at the store around the corner when this happened,” Whitfield said.

His father has not yet been told of Ruth’s death.

Katherine Massey, 72, was a retired Blue Cross Blue Shield worker and wrote op-eds for The Challenger, a local Buffalo newspaper. She was known in her community as a local activist who championed civil rights.

Her sister, Barbara Mapps, in consumed with anger and grief.

“I got pissed today and called the coroner. … [The killer] shot them all in the face,” Mapps said. “We have to close [Katherine’s coffin. … One of the nicest people in the world.”

Off the accused shooter, Mapps wants him kept alive.

“I don’t want him dead,” she said. “Please Jesus, don’t let him die. Let him suffer.”

Katherine, Massey said, volunteered at local schools and was a key reason trees were planted along the block on which they lived.

Aaron Salter Jr., 55, was the security guard on duty at Tops. A former Buffalo police officer, Salter exchanged gunfire with the shooter, saving untold numbers of shoppers, before being fatally shot himself.

“Today is a shock,” son Aaoron Salter III told the Daily Beast. “I’m pretty sure he saved some lives today. He’s a hero.”

And the tragic list goes on and on.

One user on Twitter compiled a thread to memorialize each of the 10 victims.

We at American Wire wish to express our sorrow and prayers for the families and loved ones of each of those whose lives were senselessly lost.

 

 

 

 

Melissa Fine

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles