A gunman sporting a rifle and body armour opened fire in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, killing at least 10 people before being taken into custody Saturday afternoon (local time), law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.
Details on the number of additional people shot at the Tops Friendly Market and their conditions weren't immediately available. The two officials were not permitted to speak publicly on the matter and did so on the condition of anonymity.
The New York Times reported that the attack appeared to have been inspired by earlier massacres that were motivated by racial hatred, including the Christchurch mosque shooting and another at a Walmart in Texas, both in 2019.
Investigators believe the man may have been live-streaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online, one official said. The official cautioned the investigation was in its preliminary stages and that authorities hadn't yet discerned a clear motive, but were investigating whether the shooting was racially motivated.
The supermarket is in a predominately black neighbourhood, about 5km north of downtown Buffalo. The surrounding area is primarily residential, with a Family Dollar store and fire station near the store.