BUFFALO, N.Y. —

       A gunman opened fire with a rifle Saturday at a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y., in what authorities called a “hate crime and racially motived violent extremism,” killing 10 people and wounding three others before being taken into custody, law enforcement officials said.

       Police officials said the 18-year-old gunman, who is white, wore body armor in addition to military-style clothing, pulled up Saturday afternoon and opened fire with a rifle at a Tops Friendly Market, livestreaming the shooting via a camera affixed to his helmet.

       “He exited his vehicle. He was very heavily armed. He had tactical gear. He had a tactical helmet on. He had a camera that he was livestreaming what he was doing,” city Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said at a news conference.

       Gramaglia said the gunman shot four people outside the store, and three of them died. Inside the store, a security guard who was a retired Buffalo police officer fired multiple shots at the gunman and struck him, but the bullet hit the gunman’s bulletproof vest and had no effect, Gramaglia said. He said the gunman then killed the security guard.

       Video showed the suspect walking into the supermarket and shooting several other victims inside, according to authorities.

       Officials said 11 of the victims are Black and two are white. The shooting happened in a predominantly Black neighborhood a few miles north of downtown Buffalo.

       What to know about mass shootings

       FAQ UPDATED March 25, 2022 | 1:18 PM

       How do we define a mass shooting?

       Mass shootings are defined as a shooting with four or more people killed — not including the shooter — in a public location with firearms, as defined by the Congressional Research Service.

       Are mass shootings related to mental illness?

       Most people who have and live with a mental illness are nonviolent. Most shooters experienced early childhood trauma and exposure to violence at a young age, and most shooters have studied the actions of other shooters and sought validation for their motives. According to the Violence Project — a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center dedicated to reducing violence in society — the role of serious mental illness in mass shootings is complex. The project reports that more than 80% of mass shooters were in a notable crisis prior to the shooting. Psychosis played no role for nearly 70% of mass shooters, according to the report.

       If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help from a professional and call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255). Text “HOME” to 741741 in the U.S. and Canada to reach the Crisis Text Line.

       Are mass shootings becoming more deadly and more common?

       Yes, mass shootings have been getting more deadly over the decades. James Densley and Jillian Peterson, who run the Violence Project and have studied every public mass shooting since 1966, write that more than half of the shootings have occurred since 2000 and 33% since 2010. They write that for decades, the toll of mass shootings has risen steadily. During the 1970s, mass shootings claimed an average of 5.7 lives per year. In 2019, the average figure was 51 deaths per year . In 2020, mass shootings were far less frequent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as schools, offices and churches shut down. Now they’re ticking back up.

       What is the contagion effect?

       Most shooters have studied the actions of other shooters and want validation for their motives, according to James Densley and Jillian Peterson of the Violence Project. That’s why mass shootings can come in clusters and can be socially contagious, a phenomenon called the contagion effect. Research also shows how media reports on mass shootings can play a role in the contagion effect or copycat incidents, according to Dr. Dan Reidenberg from Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) at a Poynter seminar on mass shootings. Responsible and helpful reporting can inform and educate the public and possibly reduce the risk of violence, according to the seminar.

       How can you talk to your child about mass shootings?

       Check in with your child and talk to them about their concerns. Reassure them that they are safe (which is good advice for all trauma survivors). Tailor conversations and topics to what’s appropriate for your child’s age. Limit their exposure to media coverage of shootings. Maintain routines and model healthy behavior as parents. Have a plan with your children in case of an emergency. Also, watch for changes in their behavior, sleep, mood and appetite. Every child responds to trauma differently and can show signs of stress at different times, according to the American Psychological Assn.

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       “This is the worst nightmare that any community can face, and we are hurting and we are seething right now,” Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said at a news conference. “The depth of pain that families are feeling and that all of us are feeling right now cannot even be explained.”

       Gramaglia said Buffalo police entered the store and confronted the gunman in the vestibule.

       “At that point the suspect put the gun to his own neck. Buffalo police personnel -- two patrol officers -- talked the suspect into dropping the gun. He dropped the gun, took off some of his tactical gear, surrendered at that point. And he was led outside, put in a police car,” he said.

       The suspect was identified as Payton Gendron of Conklin, about 200 miles southeast of Buffalo in New York state, two law enforcement officials told the Associated Press. The officials were not permitted to speak publicly on the matter and did so on the condition of anonymity.

       NAACP President Derrick Johnson released a statement in which he called the shooting “absolutely devastating.”

       “Our hearts are with the community and all who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy. Hate and racism have no place in America. We are shattered, extremely angered and praying for the victims’ families and loved ones,” he said.

       The Rev. Al Sharpton called on the White House to convene a meeting with Black, Jewish and Asian American leaders “to underscore the Federal government [is] escalating its efforts against hate crimes.” In a tweet, Sharpton said that “leaders of all these communities should stand together on this!”

       Braedyn Kephart and Shane Hill, both 20, said they pulled into the parking lot just as the suspect was exiting. They described him as a white male in his late teens or early 20s sporting full camo clothing, a black helmet and what appeared to be a rifle.

       “He was standing there with the gun to his chin. We were like, what the heck is going on? Why does this kid have a gun to his face?” Kephart said, adding that after the suspect dropped to his knees, “he ripped off his helmet, dropped his gun, and was tackled by the police.”

       Law enforcement closed off the block, lined by spectators, and yellow police tape surrounded the parking lot.

       More than two hours after the shooting, Erica Pugh-Mathews was waiting outside the store behind the police tape.

       “We would like to know the status of my aunt, my mother’s sister. She was in there with her fiance. They separated and went to different aisles,” she said. “A bullet barely missed him. He was able to hide in a freezer, but he was not able to get to my aunt and does not know where she is. We just would like word either way if she’s OK.”

       New York Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted that she was “closely monitoring the shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo,” her hometown. She said state officials had offered help to local authorities. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office said on social media that it had ordered all available personnel to assist Buffalo police.

       At the White House, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden was receiving regular updates on the shooting and the investigation and had offered prayers with the first lady for the victims and their loved ones.

       “The president has been briefed by his Homeland Security advisor on the horrific shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., this afternoon. He will continue to receive updates throughout the evening and tomorrow as further information develops,” she said.

       U.S. Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland was briefed on the shooting, Justice Department spokesperson Anthony Coley said.

       The shooting came a little more than a year after a March 2021 attack at a King Soopers grocery in Boulder, Colo., that killed 10 people. Investigators have not released any information about why they believe the man charged in that attack targeted the supermarket.