Tributes pour in for Aaron Salter, Ruth Whitfeild, Pearly Young, 7 deceased and 13 injured victims of Buffalo Shooting at Tops.
Aaron Salter Jr, 55, had worked at the Tops Friendly Markets store in Buffalo, New York for the past four years after serving as a police officer for 30 years.
When Payton Gendron walked into the store on Saturday afternoon with an assault weapon, officials say, Salter pulled out his own weapon
He then reportedly fired at the gunman multiple times but was unable to pierce his armored plating, allowing the gunman to return fire and kill Salter.
He was one of 10 people killed in the apparently racially-motivated attack
Police officials and family members are now hailing Salter as a hero
The former Buffalo police officer who died trying to take down a gunman is being hailed as a ‘hero’ by city officials.
#RIP Retired Buffalo PD Officer #AaronSalter who lost his life while heroically saving others today during a deadly mass shooting at Tops on Jefferson Ave. in #Buffalo. May all of the victims and their loved ones be held in comfort and strength ❤️https://t.co/7E0BV1Dy7Z pic.twitter.com/BilxFi4btf
— Alex Lynne (@alexlovesfreddy) May 15, 2022
The security guard who died trying to stop the white supremacist who murdered those people at TOPS is named Aaron Salter Jr. Because I know the media isn't going to memorialize this man as a hero, I'm asking all of you to remember who he is and remember his sacrifice. pic.twitter.com/hLCokUIn2i
— 🇯🇲Black 🇭🇹 Aziz 🇳🇬 aNANsi 🇹🇹 (@Freeyourmindkid) May 15, 2022
The security guard who attempted to stop a mass shooter in Buffalo is Aaron Salter
— The Circle (@TheCirc92826597) May 15, 2022
Aaron Salter attempted to stop the shooter by firing at the shooter, Payton Gendron. However, Gendron was wearing body armor and was not harmed by the shot. Gendron returned fire, killing Salter pic.twitter.com/LjdnXNhz5w
The ex-cop supermarket security guard that died exchanging gunfire with the Buffalo supermarket shooter on Saturday died a “hero,” his son said.#AaronSalter Jr. was identified by his son as the beloved Tops Friendly Markets security guard. #PaytonGendron #AaronSalteraHero pic.twitter.com/7JXq3nlpjt
— Maurice Ash (@ItsMauriceAsh) May 15, 2022
There's the racist Buffalo gunman who copied other racists and then there's Aaron Salter Jr., who died trying to protect people, had three kids and was working to build engines that could run on water. Whose name should we be remembering? https://t.co/F1ntvcDjKa
— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell) May 15, 2022
The shooter murdered an 86 year-old grandmother Ruth Witfield. I’m sure Aaron Salter Jr. lost his life trying to protect her.😔 pic.twitter.com/gBCB0ckFpG
— Laurie💔 (@Laurieluvsmolly) May 15, 2022
Ruth Whitfeild, 86 💔💪🏿
— Shepherd Wolf 🐺🎱🐺 (@silentpartner80) May 15, 2022
Pearly Young, 77 💔💪🏿
Aaron Salter Jr. 💔💪🏿
Our hearts go out to the confirmed victims of this white supremacist murderer. May they rest in peace. ❤ #Bufalo #BuffaloStrong #WhiteSupremacy #terrorist pic.twitter.com/HT1fmMFLV7
UPDATE: @news4buffalo has learned 86-year-old Ruth Whitfield was killed in today's attack at Tops Markets. She was the mother of former Buffalo Fire Commissioner Garnell Whitfield. https://t.co/PQ6JFo35m9
— Abby Fridmann (@abbyfridmannTV) May 15, 2022
We know the names of four victims: Katherine Massey, Aaron Salter, Ruth Whitfield, and Pearly Young. They’re the ones who people should be thinking about.
— Joe Katz is reading something banned in Florida (@joekatz45) May 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/jwhoopes2/status/1525829885419130880?s=20&t=P5In0zj1uAUXzI-vkAkYDg
https://twitter.com/tdotmcelwee/status/1525807413076672514?s=20&t=P5In0zj1uAUXzI-vkAkYDg
