Python Gendron, who is accused of killing 10 blacks in a racist attack in Buffalo, New York, faces 25 counts of “home terrorism” and “hate crime” and could face up to life in prison.
The indictment against Gondron, 18, is based on “premeditated murder” after he shot dead a group of people at a local store in Buffalo on May 14.
The young man is accused of trying to kill three people who were shot during the attack but survived.
Gendron pleaded not guilty, and prosecutors at 20 said the jury had voted against him, noting at the time that “the investigation is still ongoing.”
Gendron’s lawyer, Brian Parker, said he “did not see the indictment and could not comment on it.”
He noted that the judge “prevented a public debate on this case”.
And if Jendron is convicted on those charges, he will face life in prison because New York State does not have the death penalty and the “terror charge” resonates emotionally to send an important message about extremism.
Jendron is charged with “domestic terrorism” in connection with “murder by race or color.”
“Gondron’s motive was to hate people he had never met, and for no other reason than the color of their skin,” said John Almore, the family’s lawyer.
Former state governor Andrew Como proposed the Internal Terrorism and Hate Crimes Act in August 2019, following mass shootings targeting Mexicans at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas. The law became law in April 2020 and went into effect the same year. .
Source: Lebanon Debate
