President Biden and other politicians speak out on 'horrific' Buffalo shooting police say was racially motivated
- A white gunman took the lives of 10 people at a mass shooting in Buffalo, police say.
- President Biden called Saturday's incident "horrific."
President Joe Biden released a statement Sunday condemning Saturday's mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, that left 10 dead, according to officials.
"Tonight, we grieve for the families of ten people whose lives were senselessly taken and everyone who is suffering the physical and emotional wounds of this horrific shooting," Biden wrote in a statement. "We are grateful for the bravery of members of law enforcement and other first responders who took immediate action to try to protect and save lives. The First Lady and I are praying for the victims and their families, and hearts all across this country are with the people of Buffalo."
On Saturday, police said an 18-year-old white gunman traveled to a Tops grocery store in Buffalo and shot 13 people, 11 of whom were Black. Ten people died, police said.
The FBI announced they are investigating the incident as a hate crime and as "racially motivated violent extremism."
Other politicians took to Twitter to offer prayers and condolences to the community of Buffalo.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted Saturday that he offered help to the Mayor of Buffalo. "Racism has no place in our state or our country," Schumer wrote.
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted condolences, saying she would "fight" to implement gun safety measures and "confront and defeat the scourge of white supremacy."
New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins wrote in a statement: "This targeted attack against Black Americans is not a new phenomenon in this country, and now is the time that we as a nation come together to confront this hatred."
Republican State Senator leader Rob Ortt called the tragic shooting "heartbreaking."
"New Yorkers stand together in condemning this despicable violence," Ortt wrote in a statement.