The Buffalo, New York, supermarket shooting over the weekend left the whole country heartbroken, angered, and reeling at the senseless hatred, racism, and violence that keeps growing like mold in the United States.
The situation has become so dire in America, that one CNN anchor was so brutally overcome by emotions while reporting on this recent violent attack that he could not hold back his tears during a live segment while reporting on the ground in Buffalo.
CNN anchor Victor Blackwell found himself in literal tears today as he spoke with people from the predominantly Black community that was violently targeted by a heavily armed 18-year-old white gunman who shot and killed 10 innocent people in a racism and hate-fueled attack at a supermarket on Saturday.
Co-anchor Alisyn Camerota said, “Victor, it is so hard to hear the raw grief of all of these family members and employees just trying to make sense of how their lives have been ruined in the space of a few minutes by a horrible, hateful person.”
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Blackwell replied, with tears already filling his eyes, “I was counting in the car, talking with my producer, I’ve done 15 of these, at least the ones I can count, and we keep having the conversation about Democrats will say guns, republicans will say mental health, and nothing will change. And I’ll probably do another one this year.”
“Family after family, having nowhere to go with their grief, we’ll get into a political conversation later but is this the way we’re supposed to live?” the heartbroken CNN anchor continued. “Are we destined to just keep doing this city after city? Have we just resigned that this is what we are going to be? I’m going to give it back to you.”
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia confirmed during a recent news conference that the 18-year-old gunman, who was decked to the nines in a helmet and full tactical gear, was arrested by authorities after the brutal massacre.
The Police Commissioner also confirmed a total of 10 deaths as a result of the mass shooting, and at least 3 additional injured individuals.
Gramaglia revealed that the racially-motivated shooter shot 4 people in the parking lot of the Tops supermarket, killing 3, before going on to open fire inside of the store.
Among those who lost their lives to the shooter inside the supermarket was retired police officer Aaron Salter Jr. who was working as an armed security guard. Gramaglia said Salter engaged the suspect, fired multiple shots.” However, the shooter was wearing heavy tactical body armor and he ultimately shot and killed the retired officer.
The official went on to note that the suspect pointed the gun to his own neck when police arrived on the scene, but was talked down by authorities and immediately arrested.
Special agent in charge of the FBI’s Buffalo field office, Stephen Belongia, confirmed during the same news conference that the Buffalo massacre is officially being investigated as a hate crime.
“We are investigating this incident as both a hate crime and a case of racially motivated violent extremism,” Belongia explained.
Watch the heartbreaking clip of the CNN anchor’s segment here:
Featured image via screen capture
