The maker of a gun accessory tied to the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting will pay $1.75 million to survivors and victims’ families and stop selling the device in New York, state Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday. This settlement aims to hold the manufacturer accountable for a product that allegedly facilitated the racist attack.
Georgia-based Mean Arms settled a lawsuit filed by James over its magazine lock, which was designed to prevent high-capacity magazine swaps but was easily removable. The agreement bans the company from selling the accessory in New York, marking a significant step in addressing gun safety failures linked to mass shootings.
The 2022 attack at Tops Friendly Market, carried out by white supremacist Payton Gendron, killed 10 Black people in a racist targeting of a predominantly Black neighborhood. Victims ranged from ages 32 to 86 and included a security guard, a man shopping for a birthday cake, and a grandmother, underscoring the community’s profound and personal loss.
According to James, the lock was ineffective, with step-by-step removal instructions on the packaging, enabling Gendron to modify his AR-15-style rifle with illegal high-capacity magazines. This flaw contributed to the deadly assault that lasted only minutes, highlighting gaps in firearm regulation and manufacturer responsibility.
James stated that the settlement offers “some measure of comfort” to Buffalo residents by ensuring accountability. Pamela Pritchett, whose mother Pearl Young was killed, emphasized that no one should inflict such damage so quickly, reflecting the families’ mixed emotions as they seek justice and healing.
Separate settlements were reached with Gendron’s family and gun seller Vintage Firearms, which has permanently closed. Everytown Law, representing some plaintiffs, noted these agreements are confidential but part of a broader legal resolution aimed at addressing all aspects of the tragedy.
Gendron is serving life without parole after pleading guilty to state charges, and a federal trial on hate crime and weapons counts is expected this year, with the Justice Department seeking the death penalty. This ongoing legal process highlights the multi-faceted pursuit of justice at both state and federal levels.
The Mean Arms settlement sets a precedent for holding accessory manufacturers liable in mass shooting cases, potentially influencing future litigation and policy discussions on gun control. As the Buffalo community continues to heal, this development represents a step towards accountability while emphasizing the need for systemic changes to prevent similar atrocities.
