Security guard Aaron Salter Jr’s heroic last act praised by coworker as first Buffalo mass shooting victims identified
A HEROIC security guard stood his ground against the suspected gunman at the Buffalo grocery store, dying to protect others inside.
Aaron Salter Jr was taught by his company to avoid life-threatening situations but instead made the ultimate sacrifice when shots were fired at the Tops Friendly Market.
"We are told our safety is most important and to get out if something like that happens," Salter Jr's coworker Henry Johnson told The Sun.
"But he didn't leave. That says everything you need to know about him."
Salter Jr engaged in gunfire with the accused shooter, but the alleged gunman - white, 18-year-old Payton Gendron - was wearing armor so he was not hurt.
The former cop was one of the 13 victims who died during Saturday's hate-fueled mass shooting.
BUFFALO SHOOTING
Johnson was among several dozen people who paid their respects outside the Buffalo Tops Market Place on Jefferson Avenue Sunday morning.
Yellow police tape still cordoned off the perimeter of the predominantly black community's only grocery store within a one-mile radius.
Local, state, and federal law enforcement - including full-outfitted SWAT members - surrounded the store.
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The retired Buffalo Police Department cop pictured right, was named as the first victim of the alleged teen gunman who began shooting after driving five hours to the grocery store.
"Today is a shock," his son, Aaron Salter III, told in Lockport, a suburb of Buffalo.
"I'm pretty sure he saved some lives today. He's a hero."
Johnny Juliano, Salter's cousin, also posted on Facebook: "R.I.P to my cousin Aaron “salt man “ Salter jr. A true hero who risked his life trying to defend those helpless during a racist attack/ mass shooting.
"Retired BPD who was loved by all you truely will be missed and remembered for your heroic gesture.
"May god look over our family during this hard time and please pray for us and the families of all the other victims in this tragedy. Pray for Buffalo!"
In a CBS broadcast earlier this evening, Salter's heroic efforts to stop the alleged shooter were praised by both the mayor and his former colleagues.
A second victim, Ruth Whitfield, has also been named by her family, according to
Her son, retired Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell W. Whitfield, paid tribute to the 86-year-old, telling the outlet: "My mom was the consummate mom. My mother was a mother to the motherless. She was a blessing to all of us. She loved God and taught us to do the same thing."
ID OF VICTIMS NAMED SO FAR
The victims from Buffalo who were killed were: Roberta Drury, 32; Margus Morrison, 52; Geraldine Talley, 62; Celestine Chaney, 65; Heyward Patterson, 67; Katherine Massey, 72; Pearl Young, 77; and 86-year-old Ruth Whitfield.
New Yorkers Andre Mackneil, 53, from Auburn, and Aaron Salter, 55, from Lockport were also killed.
Zaire Goodman, 20, Jennifer Warrington, 50, and Christopher Braden, 55, were treated in hospital and released without life-threatening injuries.
A majority of the victims, 11 of the 13 people shot, were Black, according to law enforcement.
Pearl Young, 77, was the second victim to have been confirmed as one of the fallen after the shooting in a series of social media posts.
Jimmie Smith shared a snap of her on Facebook, writing: "I’m soooo sorry this happened! You did NOT DESERVE THIS!
"You were so sweet and beautiful on the inside and out! YOU REALLY DID LOVE THE LORD!!!!
"R.I.P Mother Pearl Young You will never be forgotten!!!! #RIP #buffalomassshooting #COGIC #LordHaveMercy."
Reporter Madison Carter also tweeted: "Pearly Young, 77, was killed today in shopping for groceries.
"For 25 years she ran a pantry where every Saturday she fed people in Central Park. Every. Saturday.
"She loved singing, dancing, & being with family. She was mother, grandma, & missionary. Gone too soon."
Young also worked as a substitute teacher up until her death, mostly in special education.
“You don’t expect this when your mother goes grocery shopping,” said Young’s daughter, Pamela Pritchett, 55.
“She taught young men like him,” said Pritchett of the alleged shooter.
Ruth Whitfield was the mother of former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield.
Garnell said that his mother would take care of his father at a nursing home. “She dedicated her entire life to her family but specifically the last eight years to him,” he said.
“Yesterday she was leaving the nursing home, stopped at the store around the corner when this happened,”
Dezzelyn McDuffie found out that her 32-year-old daughter, Roberta Drury, was killed after seeing video of her being shot on social media.
“She was just coming out of Tops,” her mother said to the
Katherine Massey's sister, Barbara, is calling for justice following her murder.
Barbara Massey dropped her sister off at the grocery store shortly before the shooting happened. Massey said she raced to the police cordon after Katherine didn’t answer her phone, begging the officers to let her look for her sister.
“I was still holding out hope. I just kept begging the police, please let me find my sister,” she said.
It wasn’t until Sunday when a coroner confirmed that a woman matching Katherine’s description was found with a fatal gunshot wound.
“The coroner was wonderful, she even cried,” said Massey.
According to Massey, the sisters grew up in central Buffalo. Katherine worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield for 40 years and had spent her life spoiling her friends, family and grand nephews and nieces.
Katherine also contributed to the neighborhood newspaper, The Challenger, even writing pieces about gun crime and the need for stricter laws on firearms.
“Kat was the sweetest little thing. The heaviest her weight has ever been was 112 pounds,” said Massey.
“She was very intelligent, she would write letters, she would volunteer at City Hall. She would go to the Family Dollar and buy something for everybody. She was the glue. She was everything to us. If you did something for Kat she would never forget it.”
FAMILY FINDS OUT LOVED ONE DIES IN VIDEO
During an emotional press conference, Eerie County Sherrif John Garcia explained that Gendron drove five hours to that specific area, which is a predominately Black community.
Gendron was arrested and quickly arraigned on Saturday night when he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
He was seen in photos of the attack wearing military fatigues.
Police said he was wearing body armor and a helmet fitted with a camera to live-stream the shooting and upload it directly to Twitch.
The Sun has viewed the graphic video footage, which shows victims being gunned down in the parking lot at point-blank range and inside the store.
One family member told The Sun on Saturday night that they learned they lost a loved one from screenshots from the live stream.
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“It's impersonal and cold to find out this way," said the family member, who wished to remain anonymous because the victim hasn't yet been named.
A toddler was with the grandfather at the time, according to the family member.
