A good guy with a gun attempted to stop a mass killer on Saturday at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.
Aaron Salter, Jr., 55, was working as a security guard at Tops Friendly Market when a hate-filled 18-year-old began shooting patrons with an AR-style rifle in what authorities are describing as a “racially motivated attack.”
Salter, a retired Buffalo police officer who served the city for 30 years, engaged the suspect with his own firearm.
Though Salter landed a hit on the suspect, the body armor the suspect was wearing stopped the bullet from penetrating, say investigators.
Salter was then fatally shot by the suspect, an individual who had previously been investigated by state police for making violent statements.
Erie County District Attorney John Flynn hailed Salter as a “hero” in a Sunday interview with NBC’s Willie Geist.
“He is a hero (and) has been a hero for a number of years in this community,” Flynn said.
Erie County Sheriff John C. Garcia echoed Flynn’s assessment.
“The bravery by the Buffalo police officers … I just cannot say enough about their actions,” said Garcia in a local press conference.
“I can’t say enough about our retired fellow colleague, Aaron Salter, who confronted this individual to save the lives of others,” he continued. “May he rest in peace.”
Salter is survived by three children. One of his children, his son Aaron Salter III, spoke to The Daily Beast about his father’s actions on Saturday.
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“Today is a shock,” he told the publication. “I’m pretty sure he saved some lives today. He’s a hero.”
In total, 10 people were killed on Saturday and three others were wounded.
The suspect, who was not from the Buffalo area, drove in from Conklin, NY, three hours away to perpetrate the attack. He specifically targeted the Tops location on Jefferson Ave. because of its urban setting.
I don’t share the names of mass shooters because they are seeking fame & giving them attention fuels more shootings. But I do share the names of who combat them. This is Aaron Salter, a retired Buffalo police officer, who died fighting the mass shooter. He’s a hero. pic.twitter.com/zqGor9JzQq
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) May 16, 2022
The suspect is now being charged with one count of murder in the first degree. Other charges may be added as the investigation is ongoing.
“My office is working closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our partners in law enforcement into potential terrorism and hate crimes. This is an active investigation and additional charges may be filed,” said DA Flynn.
anyone can buy body armor which is ok but like a gun it is an inanimate object used for good or bad it is a matter of choice bad guy with ar 15 and good body armor intends to survive a shootout he is not suicidal he is a determined murderer he must be stoped with superior firepower and superior cover to shoot from if the retired officer had body armor too he may have won the fight rip hero burn in hell perp.
REST IN PEACE. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOUR FAMILY. YOU ARE A HERO.
At 2:07 of the video, the Gov. of New York, Kathy Hochul, says she is angry because she has “seen violence from guns…” intimating the gun caused this horrible incident. I’ve never seen a gun cause violence, but I have seen some lunatic with a gun, knife, vehicle cause violence. We all know the gun did nothing on it’s own. It took a demented individual to use this inanimate object to commit violence on innocent people. Governor, put the blame where it belongs and stop blaming an inanimate object for the actions of a demented human being.
RIP dude. You’re a hero. Funny I haven’t heard about him from any other news outlets. Just more anti gun and racist rhetoric.
Rest in peace, sir. You are a hero who likely saved more lives with your selfless actions.
What can we learn from this?
1) The need for more armed citizens
2) If you have the time in these situations, it’s head shots or crotch shots!
Inbecile! Another half-brained genius making absurd, illogical, unsupportable statements like this. It’s just so typical that these Neanderthals come out of the woodwork.
Why are you calling him a Neanderthal? Both of his statements are true. More armed citizens help prevent these tragedies, knowing that there are few, if any, armed citizens gives the crazies the implied notion that they can just do what they want. Believing that some of the patrons ARE armed would give cause to think of the consequences of their actions.
Or are you one of those that think putting a sign up that says “Gun Free Zone” would stop a tragedy from happening.
Count on the perp being up-armored, and remember hinkly got reagan thru the armhole of his armor. That goes with above-and-below the armor shots, as noted
Hold on a minute… “who had previously been investigated by state police for making violent statements”??!!?? We’ve got people being arreated for speaking out at school meetings, standing up for the unborn and so many other things, yet this guy wasn’t being followed? NY State police don’t care about protecting the populace… the BLACK and MINORITY populace?!??!
Rest in Peace my Brother in Arms
UNFORTUNATELY THE GOOD GUY WITH A GUN FAILED TO STOP THE BUFFALO RACIST MURDERER
The saddest part is there were no other incoming rounds (return Fire) from armed citizens into that evil man.
Crazy shooter in Arvada, CO. Armed citizen stops shooter and then is killed by police in the confusing melee.
Boulder, CO supermarket shooter, 1st LO on scene w carbine is killed right away.
Who is shooting at who and when. Even armed citizens are going to be ground up if you wanna get in the fight. Choose wisely out here.
Okay NY go ahead and let him out on no bail like all the rest of your repeat felons and see what happens. Oh wait, this is a white guy shooting black people. Maybe they’ll do the right thing this time and lock his ass up and keep him locked up…….or maybe not.
Aaron Salter was certainly a hero, a credit to himself, his upbringing, and the Buffalo Police Department. Brave men like him will be sorely missed by all of us who have served in his boots over the years. Be at peace, Brother !