The grocery store where 10 innocent people were gunned down in a racist massacre re-opensFriday morning. Two months after the mass shooting took place on May 14 at the Buffalo based Tops Friendly Market and Pharmacy shoppers will be allowed to shop again.
Local advocates say they did not want eveil to win.
What the community can expect is a fresh start. The interior of the store has been fully renovated with enhancements to the exterioe, memorials to the deceased. have been erected and new workers ahve been hired. A water wall featurin thenames of the victime and a poem by a local writer is set up by an entrance. Local leaders will also speak ahead of the re-opening.
Importantly, store security has been ramped up accorin to New York's WIVB television station. Updated security measures include:
- increased security coverage inside and outside the store
- new surveillance camera to oversee Landon and Riley intersections
-enhanced video and alarm monitoring systems
-an emergency evacuation alarm system
-an additional emergency exit
-new LED lighting in the parking lot and around the building perimeter
-improved egress points and markings inside the store
-improved sight lines and openness of the sales floor
The site is the only grocery store in the immediate area.
The shooting suspect, 19-year-old Payton Gendron, is set to be arrainged in federal court on Monday. Fourteen of the charges he faces are hate crime related. Gendron was indicted on the following 27 counts:
- hate crimes resulting in death (10 counts)
- hate crimes involving an attempt to kill injured individuals (three counts)
hate crimes alleging that Gendron tried to kill more Black people in and around the Tops store (one count)
using, carrying or discharging a firearm in relation to the hate crimes (13 counts)
FOR MORE ON THE RE-OPENING OF TOPS FRIENDLY MARKET GO HERE: https://13wham.com/news/local/tops-to-reopen-jefferson-avenue-store-on-friday