The Associated Press reported that a gunman armed with a rifle and body armor opened fire in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, killing at least ten people before being apprehended Saturday afternoon.

There are no immediate details regarding the number of additional people shot at the Tops Friendly Market or their conditions. The two officials were not authorized to discuss the topic publicly and did so under the condition of anonymity.

The person stated that investigators believed the suspect may have live-streamed the massacre and investigated whether he had released a manifesto online.

The person emphasized that the inquiry was still in its early stages and that officials had not yet determined a motive but were probing if the shooting was motivated by racism.

The grocery is located approximately 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of downtown Buffalo, in a predominantly Black neighborhood.

The area surrounding the business is primarily residential, with a Family Dollar and fire station nearby.

Buffalo police reported that the shooter had been apprehended in a tweet but did not identify the culprit. However, police officials and a representative for the supermarket chain did not reply immediately to the AP's requests for comment.

Keeping track of the situation

In addition to body armor, witnesses indicated that the shooter wore military-style attire, according to one of the officials.

20-year-olds Braedyn Kephart and Shane Hill came into the parking lot as the shooter was leaving. He was described as a Caucasian male in his late teens or early twenties who was wearing full camouflage, a black helmet, and what appeared to be a rifle.

"He stood there with the rifle against his chin. We questioned, "What the heck is going on?" Why is this child holding a gun to his head?" Kephart stated. He bowed to the ground. He removed his helmet, dropped his gun, and was afterward tackled by police.

The police cordoned off the area, crowded with spectators, and surrounded the parking lot with yellow police tape. Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz were set to address the media in the parking lot across the street from the Tops shop late Saturday afternoon.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, whose hometown is Buffalo, tweeted that she was "closely monitoring the shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo." She reported that state officials had assisted local leaders. The Erie County Sheriff's Office said via social media that all available personnel had been ordered to assist Buffalo police.

According to a statement from Justice Department spokesperson Anthony Coley, Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the shooting.

The incident occurred just over a year after the March 2021 attack on a King Soopers grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, in which ten people were killed. Investigators have not said why they believe the suspect chose the shop as his target in this incident.