A white supremacist who shot dead 10 black people at a Buffalo, New York, supermarket last year has been sentenced to life in prison in a dramatic court hearing.
Payton Gendron, 19, pleaded guilty to 25 counts, including first-degree murder and terrorism motivated by hate.
Ahead of the sentencing on Wednesday, a family member rushed towards the killer and was restrained by security.
Other relatives shared emotional impact statements.
Barbara Massey, whose sister Katherine was killed, said to the gunman: “You are going to come to our city and decide you don’t like black people. Man, you don’t know a damn thing about black people. We’re human.”
Ms Massey’s statement was interrupted by her own son lunging toward the gunman. She told reporters outside court “he saw me emotional and I’m his mom”.
“We’re close,” she said. “You hurt one of us, you hurt us all.”
Zaire Goodman, who was injured, suffers from survivor’s guilt, his mother told the courtroom.
“He is dealing with the pain that I as a mother cannot bear,” Zeneta Everhart said.
“On that day this terrorist made the choice that the value of a black human meant nothing to him… whatever the sentence is that [the gunman] receives, it will never be enough.”
Brian Talley lost family member Geraldine Talley in the shooting.
He said: “I forgive you, but I forgive you not for your sake, but for mine and for this black community.”
All of the 10 people killed were black. Three others were wounded. (BBC)
