Buffalo supermarket shooting: Cashier witnessed 2010 mass shooting that killed brother
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A cashier at the Buffalo supermarket where 10 people were killed Saturday was reliving a nightmarish episode, as she witnessed another mass shooting in western New York that claimed her brother’s life nearly 12 years ago.
Latisha Rogers is an assistant office manager at Tops, where she has worked for three years, The Buffalo News reported.
“I can’t sleep. I can eat a little bit, but I just keep hearing gunshots and just seeing the bodies,” Rogers told the newspaper.
On Saturday afternoon, Rogers hid behind the customer service counter and called 911 when Payton S. Gendron entered the store and began shooting, according to the newspaper.
When the dispatcher asked her to speak louder, Rogers said she feared for her life.
“Ma’am, he’s still in the store,” Rogers said, according to the News. “He’s shooting. I’m scared for my life. I don’t want him to hear me.”
It was a tragic reminder of another mass shooting in Buffalo that the woman witnessed. On Aug. 14, 2010, a gunman fatally shot four people execution-style and wounded four others, The Associated Press reported at the time. Some of the victims were at the downtown Buffalo bar as a prelude to a wedding anniversary ceremony.
The shooting, which came to be known as the City Grille Massacre, came after an argument and led to the death of Latisha’s brother, Danyell Mackin, 30, who was visiting Buffalo from Austin, Texas, the AP reported. He was celebrating his first wedding anniversary with his wife, Tanisha Mackin, who was not injured in the shooting.
Danyell Mackin was a week short of his 31st birthday.
Mackin was shot once by Riccardo McCray, a 23-year-old high school dropout who would be sentenced to life in prison in 2011 for the fatal shootings, according to the AP.
“An occasion that should have been a joyous one, a happy one, turned tragic,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said at the time.
Witnesses said that after Mackin was lying on the ground trying to get up after being shot, McCray approached him and shot him again in the upper back or net, the News reported in 2010.
“I was there when that happened,” Rogers told the News on Sunday. “And that was a massacre, and now I have to relive a whole other massacre.”
Rogers said she does not believe she can go back to Tops after Saturday’s shooting.
“I know a lot of the regulars,” Rogers told the News. “I know a lot of residents that come in there. I’ve been here for three years. That store is very important to that community. I didn’t realize how important it was until I started working there. They love that store. That is just a traumatic experience to have in that community like that.”
Information from online newspaper archives was used in compiling this report.
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket People hug outside the scene after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Police respond to the scene of a shooting in the parking lot of a supermarket where several people were killed in a shooting, Saturday, May 14, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Police speak to bystanders while investigating after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket A body lays covered in the parking lot of a supermarket where several people were killed in a shooting, Saturday, May 14, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online. (Mark Mulville/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Police secure the area around a supermarket where several people were killed in a shooting, Saturday, May 14, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online. (Mark Mulville/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown speaks during a press conference after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Bystanders gather under an umbrella as rain rolls in after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Buffalo mayor Byron Brown takes a call after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket A bystander watches as police investigate after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown takes a moment of silence and prayer following a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia speaks at a press conference after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Police investigate after a shooting at a supermarket, Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Buffalo Police respond to a shooting at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, N.Y., Saturday, May 14, 2022. (Carolyn Thompson/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Police secure a perimeter after a shooting at a supermarket, Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket A crowd gathers as police investigate after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Multiple people were shot at the Tops Friendly Market. Police have notified the public that the alleged shooter was in custody. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex) (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Police investigate after a shooting at a supermarket, Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex) (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket A crowd gathers as police investigate after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Multiple people were shot at the Tops Friendly Market. Police have notified the public that the alleged shooter was in custody. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex) (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket People gather outside a supermarket where several people were killed in a shooting, Saturday, May 14, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online (Derek Gee/The Buffalo News via AP) (Derek Gee/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket A crowd gathers as police investigate after a shooting at a supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, in Buffalo, N.Y. Multiple people were shot at the Tops Friendly Market. Police have notified the public that the alleged shooter was in custody. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex) (Joshua Bessex/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Police secure an area around a supermarket where several people were killed in a shooting, Saturday, May 14, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online (Derek Gee/The Buffalo News via AP) (Derek Gee/AP)
Gunman opens fire in Buffalo supermarket Police vehicles block off the street where at least 10 people were killed in a shooting at a supermarket, Saturday, May 14, 2022 in Buffalo, N.Y. Officials said the gunman entered the supermarket with a rifle and opened fire. Investigators believe the man may have been livestreaming the shooting and were looking into whether he had posted a manifesto online (Derek Gee/The Buffalo News via AP) (Derek Gee/AP)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral A member of the New York State Patrol honor guard walks to a funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral Police officers salute outside the funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral People hug before a funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral A member of the Amherst Police honor guard prepares before a funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral A person holds a program for the funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel on Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral Officers and bystanders salute during a funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral People stand to watch the procession after the funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral Pallbearers wheel the casket of Aaron Salter Jr. during a funeral service at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral A person touches the casket of Aaron Salter Jr. during a funeral service at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral New York Attorney General Letitia James walks to a funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral Capt. Wayne Wolfe, with the Erie County Sheriff's Mounted Reserve Unit, leads a riderless horse before the funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral New York State Troopers lead a procession after the funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Photos: Aaron Salter Jr., retired Buffalo officer killed in mass shooting, honored at funeral People salute during the funeral service for Aaron Salter Jr. at The Chapel on Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in Getzville, N.Y. Salter Jr. was killed in the Buffalo supermarket shooting on May 14. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)