WASHINGTON—The Justice Department on Wednesday filed federal hate crime charges against a white supremacist accused of killing 10 black people in Buffalo, New York, last month, saying he was driven by a desire to “prevent black people from replacing white people.”
Payton Gendron faces 26 counts of hate crimes and firearms offenses, according to the charges.
The complaint contains chilling details about the May 14 shooting, including a moment when Gendron turned to a male victim who had been shot in the leg and said “sorry” before moving on, according to a sworn statement filed by an FBI agent.
“We will be relentless in our efforts to combat hate crimes and support communities terrorized by them, and to hold accountable those who perpetrate them,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland, who traveled to the site of the shooting on Wednesday and met with victims’ families….