FOLLOW US

A gun accessory company has agreed to pay $1.75 million to survivors and families of victims of the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting, and will stop selling its product in New York, state officials announced Wednesday.

The settlement involves Georgia-based Mean Arms and resolves a lawsuit filed by New York’s Attorney General Letitia James. The case focused on a device designed to lock a magazine onto a rifle, intended to prevent the use of high-capacity magazines, which are banned under New York law. Authorities said the gunman, Payton Gendron, was able to remove the lock from his AR-15-style rifle and attach high-capacity magazines. The packaging included step-by-step instructions explaining how to bypass the device.

“We hope that by holding this manufacturer accountable and banning it from selling this device in New York state, we can offer the people of Buffalo some measure of comfort,” James said during a news conference in the city.

The lawsuit settlement comes alongside agreements with Gendron’s family and a firearms retailer, Vintage Firearms LLC, which has permanently closed. Attorneys for the victims said the owner of the gun store agreed not to pursue a federal firearms license in the future. Settlements with Gendron’s parents were confidential.

Relatives of victims joined James at the announcement, describing the settlement as a step forward. Pamela Pritchett, whose mother Pearl Young was killed in the attack, said: “No one should be able to come into a store and, in two minutes, inflict so much damage to a community, to a family, to children.” Young, 77, was a Sunday school teacher and ran a local food pantry, leaving a lasting impact on her community.

Authorities say Gendron, who is white, targeted a Tops Friendly Market located in a predominantly Black neighborhood. The victims ranged in age from 32 to 86 and included a store guard, a man shopping for a birthday cake, a grandmother of nine, and the mother of a former Buffalo fire commissioner.

Gendron pleaded guilty in November 2022 to multiple state charges, including murder, and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. A federal trial is expected to begin later this year, with hate crime and weapons charges pending. The Department of Justice has indicated it will seek the death penalty.

The Buffalo shooting sparked national outrage and renewed discussions on gun safety, hate crimes, and the responsibility of manufacturers and retailers in preventing access to dangerous devices. Legal experts have noted that settlements like this one could influence how gun accessory companies operate in states with strict firearm regulations.

“This case highlights the importance of accountability for companies whose products can be misused in ways that harm communities,” said one attorney involved in the litigation. “Holding manufacturers responsible sends a strong message that public safety cannot be compromised.”