May 2, 2024

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Was Buffalo shooting suspect barred from buying firearms? What we know

A urgent question connected to the Buffalo taking pictures suspect requires regardless of whether New York’s so-identified as purple flag legislation could have prevented him from paying for a firearm.

The issue stems from the suspect, Payton Gendron, 18, earning a risk previous 12 months at Susquehanna Valley Superior University. The danger was reviewed by point out authorities last 12 months and resulted in a referral for a mental wellbeing evaluation.

New York’s crimson flag legislation lets courts to concern an severe hazard defense get that temporarily prevents individuals who pose a danger to on their own or others from shopping for or possessing firearms. The system entails police, district lawyers, school officers or a member of the person’s home filing a request for the buy.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday reported she is investigating no matter whether the purple flag law experienced any relationship to the Buffalo capturing suspect, speaking to PIX11News.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul addresses a press conference in New York on Sunday, May 15, 2022, about the racially motivated mass shooting that left ten victims dead and several wounded at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo the day before. (Malik Rainey/The New York Times)

Point out law enforcement on Monday explained a crimson flag law request was not filed in connection to Gendron’s college-relevant threat and mental overall health evaluation in 2021. Beau Duffy, a state police spokesperson, declined to comment further on the pink flag situation.

Duffy also would not present precise specifics about the menace in 2021, composing in an email that it was “general in character, did not focus on anyone unique or the faculty or any other entity, and it did not include things like any mention of firearms or taking pictures.”