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Buffalo Suspect Arraigned on Charges Linked to Mass Shooting; Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) Discusses Shooting in Buffalo; Darius Prigden, (D), Buffalo City Council Member, Discusses Mass Shooting. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired May 14, 2022 - 20:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[20:00:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Calling a judge up and having him come downtown to city court on a Saturday evening to arraign this individual immediately, not tomorrow morning, not Monday morning, right now.

And therefore, as I said, we got a murder first-charge already filed against him. We are now investigating terrorism charges. Other murder charges, along with working with our partners in the federal government, so that they can perhaps file charges as well.

So I assure everyone in this community, justice is being done right now and justice will be done.

(CROSSTALK)

STEPHEN BELONGIA, AGENT IN CHARGE, FBI BUFFALO, NEW YORK, FIELD OFFICE: As the FBI --

(CROSSTALK)

BELONGIA: So I'm with the FBI.

We are doing a parallel investigation with our local and state partners. We are aggressively investigating this at the federal level as a hate crime and as an instance of racially motivated violent extremism.

We will bring all of the resources of the federal government to bear on this case. This is the number-one priority of the Department of Justice.

And I can assure the citizens of this community that anything that we can do at the federal level with this case will be done and justice will be served for the victims.

(CROSSTALK)

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): Just on the hate crime issue as well, I've already asked, our hate crime task force, the New York State Hate Crime Task Force to be investigating as well. So it is being treated absolutely as a hate crime. And I've been in touch with officials in Washington and at the White

House on the issue of what we're doing here so aggressively. So I appreciate the FBI's engagement as well.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, everyone.

(CROSSTALK)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Our coverage of the breaking news out of western New York continues this hour.

Police say an 18-year-old man dressed in tactical gear and protective armor opened fire at a grocery store in Buffalo, just hours ago, killing 10 people and wounding three others.

Police say most of the victims were African-American and the gunman is white.

The suspect, Peyton Gendron, just appeared in court and was arraigned on charges relating to the shooting. I should note, that will be the only time we name him tonight.

Our Athena Jones is tracking the story and joins us now.

Athena, we heard some very passionate remarks there from New York governor Kathy Hochul who blasted social media for giving hate a platform. What else did we hear?

ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Pamela. That's right, Kathy Hochul was a native of Buffalo. She was born in Buffalo.

She started her remarks talking about how she knows this community and spent time in this community. She talked -- she showed she was angry by the events today, as anyone would be with this senseless killing.

She said she's angry she's seeing guns causing mayhem in places like Brooklyn when we saw the shooting on the subway in Brooklyn in recent weeks. And now here on the streets of Buffalo.

She mentioned some sort of gun legislation package to be discussed in Albany to address the issues of guns.

Interestingly, she told us a little more about the weapon that the suspect was carrying, saying that her understanding was that it was a legally obtained weapon that was modified in such a way that made it illegal, the modification was illegal and that it was modified with magazines available in Pennsylvania.

Of course, when you hear people like Kathy Hochul, the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, they talk a lot about the Iron Pipeline, guns and gun parts moving from states where there are looser rules to places like New York where there are tougher rules.

Clear from the governor the other officials we heard speaking that this is being -- she called the suspect a terrorist and said -- called him a white supremacist who engaged in an act of terrorism and he will be prosecuted as such, describing the incident as a military-style execution.

Why did she describe it that way? This suspect was heavily armed, full tactical gear, had a helmet. The suspect had a camera. He was livestreaming the attack as it occurred.

CNN has viewed the footage. I don't know where the camera was mounted on him, but driving into the parking lot, getting out of the car, he already shoots several people in the parking lot. I believe it was four people.

Enters the store, eventually engages with a security guard, a retired Buffalo police officer. That security guard tries to stop the suspect by shooting at him but because the suspect was heavily armed that bullet didn't cause any harm. The suspect shoots the security guard, kills him.

This is someone who a lot of the folks on the scene know. So there's a lot of anger and concern. People going on an ordinary Saturday, like so many of us have done on multiple weekends in a year, to go and do your errands, go to the grocery store.

And now 10 of those people will not be coming home for dinner, as we heard the governor note.

[20:05:00]

We also understand there were a total of 13 people shot, 10 of them were killed. Eleven of those 13 people are black. That is our understanding.

So that is one of the reasons that authorities are saying that this is a hate crime?

There's also other evidence that we don't know the full details of yet. So there's been mention of a purported manifesto posted online in connection with this shooting. And other evidence that may come to light and be reportable.

But it's unusual to see authorities say so quickly after something like this happens -- this only occurred at about 2:30. And within a couple of hours, you had -- there was law enforcement saying this is indeed a hate crime and is being investigated as such, something racially motivated.

More from the folks we heard. Kathy Hochul say, which I thought was interesting given recent news out of the Supreme Court.

She said in addition to talking about guns and potentially gun legislation in Albany, she said that she's going to be preparing the state of New York for a coming ruling or expected ruling by the Supreme Court of the U.S. that could allow -- it's in regard to a New York law against concealed weapons.

They're worried. Governor Hochul is worried that the Supreme Court could rule against this New York law, which would allow -- it would require a lifting of restrictions on people carrying concealed weapons outside the home.

So that is yet another concern among many that are stemming from the shooting. Also things like whether there could be copycats -- Pamela?

BROWN: Yes. That is an ongoing concern for sure for law enforcement at this hour.

Athena Jones, thank you. That was a lot to report there. We appreciate you wrapping it all up for us.

In the wake of this horrific shooting in Buffalo, New York, where 10 innocent people lost their lives, I want to bring in Congressman Brian Higgins of New York. He represents Buffalo. And he joins me on the line right now.

Congressman, I understand you just left the scene of the shooting. What was it like being there?

REP. BRIAN HIGGINS (D-NY) (via telephone): Mixed emotions. Anger, frustration, empathy. People are sad. Buffalo is a city of good neighbors. And we are a good community.

And, you know, the eyes of the nation are on Buffalo today. Those eyes are filled with tears and sympathy. Buffalo is filled with a sense of, we need justice on this issue.

It was a very sad day. It has been identified by law enforcement officials as a racially motivated act of domestic terrorism.

The suspect, who has been apprehended, has been now charged with murder in the first degree in New York state. But there will be other federal charges pending.

BROWN: Have you been briefed on the latest in the investigation?

HIGGINS: I have, by law enforcement officials at the federal, state, and local level. And they're still compiling information, everything -- not everything, but many things are inconclusive at this point.

But it's certainly moving in a direction that seems to be, you know, cohesive in terms of the motivation.

This was an individual that was from outside our area. He was not from Buffalo. He came to Buffalo heavily armed with at least an A.K.-47 that was modified, killed 10 people, three people are in the hospital, expected to recover.

But this is a sad day for Buffalo, a sad day for the nation. It's a continuation of what we have seen.

Until, you know, a community -- this situation exacts itself on a community, you don't realize it's a problem that's pervasive and growing.

BROWN: Yes. I think one of the eyewitnesses said on our air that, you know, he heard gunshots and he didn't think it could be true. He said, "I didn't think this actually, like, happened." Like this was actually going to happen in my neighborhood, right outside our community grocery score, and yet it did.

HIGGINS: Yes.

BROWN: And there was just such a sense of shock across the country.

Go ahead.

HIGGINS: Look, there was premeditation. When you make a charge against somebody, you have to put all those pieces together.

But even in the preliminary information that we have, clearly this is an individual that selected Buffalo, selected an area of Buffalo that is predominantly African-American, from outside the area. That is not coincidental.

And we believe, and law enforcement officials believe, that this is part of an organized effort to attack the minority community generally and the community of Buffalo as its target.

BROWN: When you say part of an organized effort, what do you mean by that?

[20:10:03]

HIGGINS: That there's an element in our society that is blatantly racist, and they're violent. And this is clearly an indication of domestic violence.

There was -- you know, he livestreamed the horrific detail in real time of this murder of innocent people.

These people were grocery store workers, by and large. They left their holes this morning expecting fully to come home at the end of the day. And these 10 individuals are leaving families that, you know, they'll never be reunited with again.

It's a tragedy. It's a tragedy.

BROWN: Do you know how many of them actually worked at the grocery store versus just shoppers going to get their food for the week?

HIGGINS: That wasn't known. There were bodies in the grocery store. And, you know, the coroner and medical examiner was on site. Some are believed to be workers. Some are believed to be customers of the store.

But obviously, you know, you don't view a supermarket as a dangerous place, particularly on a Saturday afternoon at 2:30.

And so all indications are, this points to an effort to exact domestic terrorism that is racially motivated on a community. But that threat to our community in Buffalo and western New York is a threat to the nation. BROWN: Yes. No, for sure.

I want to just go back to a couple of things you said. You said it was clear that he selected Buffalo and selected this grocery store.

And I'm wondering what more you can tell us, because we heard from the governor that the suspect came from Broome County.

And what evidence supports the fact that he targeted this grocery store in particular? Do you have any indications he has visited, he did re-con at this grocery store?

Do you know when he left his home, his community in Broome, to come to Buffalo to do this? Any more details you can provide?

HIGGINS: Yes, there were markings on his rifle that indicated that he was a racist.

(CROSSTALK)

BROWN: When you say markings, can you elaborate on that?

HIGGINS: I -- I -- I -- this is what I have heard from police investigators, the district attorney, and others.

BROWN: But what the markings were?

HIGGINS: They were racially insensitive markings that indicated that the shooter was at least racially insensitive.

Secondly, Buffalo is the largest city in New York State. If you're in Broome County, you go to New York City or a place like Buffalo.

And Jefferson Avenue is very well-established traditionally as an African-American community, and a proud African-American community.

And that this individual from outside the area came to Jefferson Avenue, to a Tops -- Tops Market is a regional supermarket chain. There's only one Tops Market in the African-American community and it's this one.

So, you know, given the preliminary evidence about the shooter, given other, you know, indications of what his intent or what his proclivities are, it's going to add up to a very compelling case.

Not only in terms of first-degree murder and the charge that he has been charged with, but subsequent charges as it relates to federal charges as well.

BROWN: Yes, we heard the officials there at the press conference earlier today say -- one official coming out and saying this was pure evil, it is straight up racially motivated hate crime.

Congressman Brian Higgins, of New York, thank you for joining us.

I'm sorry for what your district is having to go through right now. It's the worst of humanity, what we saw there. Ten people losing their lives due to just vile, senseless violence.

Thank you so much.

HIGGINS: Thank you. Bye-bye.

BROWN: And we're going to be right back with Bishop Darius Prigden. He is the senior pastor at True Bethel Baptist Church and the president of the Buffalo city council.

[20:14:55]

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: The suspect in this deadly shooting, an 18-year-old teenager, was arraigned in the past few minutes on charges of murder in the first degree.

CNN law enforcement analyst, Anthony Barksdale, and CNN senior legal analyst, Elie Honig, are back with me.

Elie, you told me you expect to see federal charges and the FBI spokesman said the FBI is conducting a parallel investigation.

Remind us, what puts this crime at the federal level, and what do you expect on that front?

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, Pam, so first of all, people should understand, you can have state crimes and federal crimes going on at the same time.

State charges and prosecutions for the same crime, at the same time. You can have both going on parallel at the same time.

Now, in order for there to be federal jurisdiction in this case, what they'll have to prove is that this was a hate crime. That one of the primary motivations this shooter had was racial hatred, racial bias, racial animus.

[20:20:03]

And so that's why there's been so much focus on the evidence of that.

The congressman just alluded to some markings that he's heard about on the gun. You're going to want to know all about that.

We've heard about a manifesto. You'll want to read every word of the manifesto. You'll want to look at the livestream.

Any evidence that shows one of the primary motivators for this shooter to commit the horrible act was racial hatred that could go to a hate crime.

That could give federal prosecutors and the FBI to charge him in addition to the state crime charges he already faces. BROWN: Anthony Barksdale, what was the significance to you that

federal and local authorities came out so quickly after the shooting and called it a hate crime, said that it was racially motivated?

ANTHONY BARKSDALE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: I think that it showed, number one, that the feds have the locals' back. And that's a huge thing to have when you're trying to address a horrible incident like this.

So if they come out together and they're saying this was a hate crime, that's a huge statement, because the feds are usually just quiet about the evidence or the direction something is going until they're set and everything is clear that they have something to go with.

So that's huge. That's how I see it.

BROWN: And the suspect has already been arraigned, Elie. This seems pretty quick to already have the arraignment. The shooting happened I think around 2:30 p.m. He's already been in court.

What do you make of that? And what happens in an arraignment? Tell us about the process.

HONIG: So it is unusual to get somebody arraigned this quickly. You always want to arraign somebody as quickly as possible.

But typically, when something happens on a weekend, you wait until a Monday morning or Sunday morning. In this case, prosecutors were able to get a judge, good on the prosecutors, good on the judge. This is obviously as serious as anything can get.

Here is what's happened now that the suspect has been arraigned. He's been advised of the charges against him. He's been appointed a lawyer if he does not have one. The judge has denied bail. He will not be released at this point, or presumably ever pending trial.

The defendant has entered a not guilty plea according to the district attorney. Nothing unexpected about that. Virtually everybody pleads not guilty. That can change down the line. A person can change from a not guilty plea and change it to a guilty plea or the person can go to trial.

The next big step procedurally is what they call in New York State the felony hearing. That has to happen within 120 hours, which is five days. So sometime before Thursday.

And at that hearing, the prosecution has to establish what's called reasonable cause that the charged crime was committed. That is a very low standard of proof. It's not nothing, but it's a low standard of proof.

So prosecutors are going to have to convince a judge that they have reasonable cause that the defendant has committed the charged crime.

Given what we've heard from authorities, it seems like that will not be a difficult task for prosecutors here. BROWN: And it seems like, based on what officials said at the press

conference, that more charges will be coming. We'll be following every single angle.

Elie, Charles, thank you so much.

We'll be right back with the senior pastor at True Bethel Baptist Church.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:27:58]

BROWN: Continuing our coverage of breaking news, the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York that left 10 people dead.

The FBI calls it pure evil and a racially motivated hate crime. The white 18-year-old suspect was arraigned a short time ago on murder charges.

Joining us now on the phone is Darius Prigden, president of the Buffalo city council and senior pastor at True Bethel Baptist Church.

First off, I want to ask you, how are you doing? And what has it been like in your community today in the wake of this shooting?

DARIUS PRIGDEN, (D), PRESIDENT, BUFFALO CITY COUNCIL & PASTOR, TRUE BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH (via telephone): First of all, thank you for having me.

It's tough. I've had the task of informing at least one family that their loved one has passed. And being here on scene for now three, four hours in a community that I actually live in, and in a store that I shop in almost daily. It's tough.

BROWN: I can't imagine having to deliver that news to a family impacted by this.

PRIGDEN: Yes. It was to a friend and to a former city employee, retired city employee whose mom was actually killed.

And so this community is grieving. It's a predominantly African- American close-knit community. This is a tragedy that no one saw coming.

BROWN: Of course not.

And often, as you well know, in times of tragedy, the community turns to people like you.

Senior pastor there at the True Bethel Baptist Church, being on the Buffalo city council, being president of that.

How do you console a community depriving like this? This is the worst kind of tragedy. Ten people --

PRIGDEN: Well --

BROWN: -- shot and killed just going grocery shopping on a nice Saturday.

PRIGDEN: Yes, well, you know, it's tough. And part of the tough part is that so many people were known to each other.

Our church buries about half of the homicide victims in the city right now through a special program that we have.

[20:30:00]

And so we've been involved in grief counseling for years. That's kind of one of the things we're known for, but nothing could have prepared us or this community for this.

You know, so I wear two hats, one as the council president, and then one as the pastor of True Bethel. But at the end of the day, you know, the counseling and the grieving, it's about getting people through the grief first, so that we get to some type of healing.

BROWN: I know it's still early. But is there anything more you can tell us about those who lost their lives? I mean, the tributes, of course, will be pouring in as we learn more, but as someone who is right there, such a big part of the community. Do you know anything else about the victims? We would like to pay tribute to them as early as possible.

PRIDGEN: Well, you know, I can't go into details because still family members have been notified. But I can tell you that it's everything from a mother, grandmother, you know, son. You can imagine it's all of those. And out of respect -- because families are still just finding out that their loved ones who went to the grocery store to get bread and milk will not be coming home. It is a tough day today.

BROWN: Yes, yes, unimaginably tough. And as you heard, officials said that this was a hate crime, racially motivated, they did not mince words. This suspect came according to the governor of New York from Broome County, which is about three and a half hours away from Buffalo came with tactical gear on. And as the governor said, this was a military execution style shooting on this.

PRIDGEN: Absolutely.

BROWN: -- on this -- yes. So when you hear about this, the suspect in the car driving three and a half hours to Buffalo to do this. What does it make you feel? What goes through your mind?

PRIDGEN: Well, it's unbelievable, you know, for us, because this is -- he didn't come to rob the store, I promise you that, he came to rob people of their lives, it's clear. He came to this city to rob people of their lives. Jefferson Avenue where the store is located is a historical Street for African-Americans. And so you came on one of the most historic streets in the city of Buffalo, in an historic area, where we have our Apollo Theater and our library named after black architect. You went right across the street, and you pulled up and you pulled out a weapon, and you aimed and you started shooting.

And not only did he start shooting, but he had the audacity and the gall to livestream it, as if it was some type of joke. And so, you know, this community is really upset. And I'm praying right now that justice will be done. But I'm also praying for peace in our community, because there were black and white people who were shot, but mostly African-Americans.

And I don't believe this guy came into the city to shoot white people. I think that they were the casualties who happened to be there working in the store. I believe he knew what he was doing. And he went for his target. This is a crime at the highest level. And we hope that justice will be served.

BROWN: You mentioned the live streaming. Governor Hochul was highly critical of the role social media companies played in these incidents. We know the suspect, allegedly streamed the shooting on Twitch. Tell us more about the role you think social media played here.

PRIDGEN: Well, you know, I'd say -- and I understand what the governor is saying, and I agree with the governor. But I want to be clear, this was the role that a very thick individual played. You know, someone asked me earlier, you know, he's only 18 years old, and, you know, brain development. And I'm going to say it like this, his brain was developed enough to know how to get to Buffalo from where he lived, his brain was developed enough to load that assault rifle. His brain was developed enough to aim at people, his brain.

So whatever he did on social media, that's one thing, but it all falls to me, mostly on him. And, you know, the -- our law enforcement does monitor social media, but you never know somebody can threaten -- this people threatened lives every day on social media. It's very difficult to follow up on every lead. He planned on doing this, I believe.

BROWN: If the suspect hope was to inflame more racial hatred, hatred within your community and beyond, what is your message to him?

PRIDGEN: You know, my message is to make sure that we recognize that this is an individual. I don't think there are others out there like him. I don't want to say -- I don't want to see black people painted with a broad brush if we have one black person do something. They have those black folks.

[20:35:08]

So at the end of the day, I don't want to see the same thing happen in our community with black and white relations. This was not a white man from our community. This was not a white man from Buffalo. This was a white person who was evil. So I don't want to see all white people paying it and to have a tension between black and white because of the individual who should serve inside. BROWN: Buffalo City Council President, Darius Predgin. Thank you. Our sympathies are with you on this incredibly difficult day. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:40:19]

BROWN: Continuing our coverage of breaking news, the mass shooting in Buffalo New York that left 10 people dead. The FBI calls it a racially-motivated hate crime. Twitch confirmed the suspect live- streamed attack on its platform.

Moments ago, New York Governor Kathy Hochul called out social media companies for not doing more to stop hateful rhetoric.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): A military style execution targeting people who simply want to buy groceries in a neighborhood store. It strikes us in our very hearts to know that there's such evil that lurks out there. Yes, I'm here to console the families and a community that is feeling so much pain right now.

But mark my words, we'll be aggressive in our preserved -- pursuit of anyone who subscribes the ideals professed by other white supremacist and how there's a feeding frenzy on social media platforms where hate festers more hate. That has to stop.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: I would have bring in CNN law enforcement analyst, Anthony Barksdale, and CNN national security analyst, Juliette Kayyem.

Anthony, starting with you, the shooter live streamed the attack on Twitch. What does that tell you as an investigator? And how can that footage actually help in the investigation?

BARKSDALE: It's documentation. This is the individual that committed a horrendous act, documenting the act as he goes along. You know, we keep hearing about social media, but police departments are stretched thin right now.

Social media needs to monitor their platforms. I mean, Twitch is part of Amazon. So these social media companies have to do a better job of watching what's being put out on their platforms. Also, if this individual, I would love to know who's following this individual on his platform, who are the others that are part of this.

If you want law enforcement to really dig in here and start figuring out who are the white supremacist in the United States or around the world wherever, dig into who is involved in watching this, who did this individual follow, who are his friends, et cetera. We have to make the most out of the opportunity when they self-identify on these platforms. BROWN: Yes. And I just want to note, Twitch provided a statement to my colleague, Brian Stelter, saying that it removed the live stream by the Buffalo grocery store massacre suspect less than two minutes after the violence started.

But, Juliette, this goes to the broader issue, as we just heard from Anthony. Clearly this suspect, based on the facts that we know and based on what officials say, he was filled with hate and animus, this -- according to officials was racially motivated. What are investigators looking at right now, even if he acted alone, as they say, that doesn't take away the ongoing concern?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Right. And it may be that we're looking at two types of investigation, one, the traditional criminal legal investigation and this presumably a federal hate crime as well as state murder crimes. And that would be to the individual, to the killer and what he did and access to the gun and his motivation, and that -- that's your sort of typical case.

But what the governor was talking about, what Anthony's talking about, what all of us in this space have been talking about is it's not enough anymore. There's an ecosystem that is -- that is -- that is feeding this frenzy of hate that is breeding it and it's a -- it's a social media, it's a -- it's media. It is these men and sometimes woman joining forces as if they were together, but they are not, and creating an atmosphere of hate that justifies violence.

So it's not -- people always talk about free speech. It's not just a white, you know, you hate a certain type of person or you don't feel comfortable around a certain kind of person. This is -- this is a violent extremism, justifies the violence because they see their identity of who they are as a -- as a white young male in some ways in their perception, hindered or undermined by the existence of African- Americans, Hispanic-Americans or whatever else.

[20:45:18]

So, we don't even -- it's just important that maybe he's acting individually. He's a -- he's what we traditionally call a lone wolf. He didn't plan it with anyone, he got the gun by himself. But we're done with that theory of how hate is working in this country. There are no lone wolves. It is a -- it is a simplistic notion of how these hate crimes are happening now. And really have to go after an ecosystem that is political, that is media, that is social media. And it's a community that is not calling this stuff out and shaming it in the ways that it needs to be.

BROWN: And I just keep thinking, Anthony, about the fact that the apparent level of planning that went into this, the fact that the suspect had all this tactical gear on and a helmet and a camera attached and then drove from Broome, New York, according to the governor, three and a half hours to Buffalo, and just the amount of hatred you have to have inside, the commitment to that hateful ideology to follow through on something like this.

I mean, that was three and a half hours where the suspect could have turned around and said, you know what, this is -- this is crazy, you know, I can't do this. But the suspect followed through and now 10 people don't have their lives and their family members are crying right now. Or maybe they're just finding out that they lost their loved one right now as we speak.

BARSKDALE: I mean, today drive hours to go to an African-American community to hunt, to gun down innocent African-Americans shopping in a supermarket, not harming anybody. We -- I mean, United States, we are losing too many black children, women, and men to gun violence. And now we have white supremacist, clearly a part of it based on this incident. It's enough. It's enough. Just -- I don't know, it's enough.

BROWN: I think we feel that also strongly like -- Anthony, what does it feel like -- like what do you feel like right now as you take all this in?

BARKSDALE: You're tired. You're onto the point -- I mean, so many others that I know, we are tired of this gun violence. And I have so much hope when President Biden clearly stated of, you know, we're going to get motion, let's be ready, because we see what's going on. We have to be prepared. We can do better.

And we're at that point -- as a matter of fact, we're way past that point. And this incident just highlights to me that we need our politicians to get on the same page. I mean, we need to get on the same page about not only the white supremacy in the United States, but also the gun violence.

Pam, I'm sorry. I'm just tired of this. You -- I'm tired of seeing this type of violence in our beautiful country. We are a great country, but we got to address this issue.

BROWN: Listen, Anthony, you don't have to apologize. Because you know what, that feeling of exasperation and being tired, that is what we're all feeling, right? We're in -- we feel that together. And I know those watching this, all of our viewers. That is the feeling, right, just be an exasperated like, come on. Not again.

Anthony, Juliette, thank you so much for being with us. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:50:35]

BROWN: The Buffalo, New York community is reeling after today's mass shooting at a supermarket that left 10 people dead and three others injured. One local woman came to the grocery store to see what she could do to help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have this very kind woman, you said that you saw us on the news and you want to come and bring us water.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had to bring water, food, and Wegmans is going to donate sandwiches to the family. I just don't know what to do. I don't even want to be in the news. It's not even about that. It's more so about Buffalo strong, like, I'm not even from Buffalo, but the piece that (BLEEP) hurts. I mean to curse. Oh, my gosh.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's raw.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's OK. It's raw. And that is the way that you are feeling right now. You had to get here and you had to feel and experience this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I had to get up and get up and come out here and just bring water, bring sandwiches something, some peace, some type of comfort. Tomorrow, I'm going to come and I'm going to light candles. I went from four people to eight people to 10 people and this is just senseless. It's ridiculous. It just happened in D.C. Just enough is enough.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You live in this community?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I do. Yes, I do.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And have you gone to this talks before?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I do. And my daughter lives right over here. So I was scared that my baby was a victim. Matter of fact, my daughter's best friend was in there in the bathroom hiding when it all happened.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you tell us a little bit about more of what she was saying?

[20:55:01]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was scared for her life. She just was in the bathroom hiding. She said she heard gunshots and she ran into the bathroom. She's scared for her life. So -- but the first thing I thought was to call my daughter to make sure that she was OK. And her friends were OK because they're from this community. This is crazy. It's just -- it's just -- I'm baffled.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Where do you go from here? I know you felt just as a community member, you wanted to be here and offer support.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to go back to law school. So I can be apparently going -- I can help the community better. Obviously, something's going on really wrong across America, across the world. And what we need to do is stand up and be stronger together. There's no white, there's no black. There's just like mental health issues. People have issues and we need to address these issues. We need to be here for each other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Couldn't agree with her more. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. We'll be right back.

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