BUFFALO, NY – A Buffalo man has been arrested in connection with a shooting outside the Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue earlier this month, police announced Tuesday.
According to the Buffalo Police Department, C District officers responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 3:05 p.m. on February 7. Investigators said multiple vehicles in the store’s parking lot exchanged shots before speeding away from the scene. No injuries were reported.
Police impounded three vehicles as part of their investigation and interviewed several individuals linked to the incident. One suspect, identified as 34-year-old Allen Belton of Buffalo, later turned himself in to police.
Belton has been charged with one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree, a class D felony, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a class A misdemeanor. Detectives say the case remains active as they continue to gather evidence and identify additional suspects.
Police continue search for other suspects
Authorities urged anyone with information to contact the Buffalo Police confidential tip line at 716-847-2255. Interim Commissioner Craig Macy said the arrest marks a significant step in the ongoing effort to address violent incidents in the Jefferson Avenue corridor.
- Allen Belton, 34, charged in connection with February 7 gunfire
- Multiple vehicles allegedly exchanged shots in Tops parking lot
- Investigation remains ongoing; police seek additional information
The department confirmed that no bystanders were injured during the Jefferson Avenue incident, which drew a large police presence that afternoon. Officers from multiple districts assisted in securing the scene and collecting shell casings and surveillance footage.
On May 14, 2022, a mass shooting occurred at the Tops Friendly Markets supermarket on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, New York. An 18-year-old white man, Payton Gendron, traveled from outside the city and opened fire in and around the grocery store in a predominantly Black neighborhood. He shot 13 people, killing 10 Black individuals and injuring three others. The attack was widely classified by law enforcement and courts as a racially motivated hate crime, domestic terrorism, and right-wing extremist attack. Gendron livestreamed part of the attack on Twitch before it was shut down, and he was taken into custody at the scene.
Officials are reminding residents to report suspicious activity and assist law enforcement in efforts to reduce violent crime across the city.
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