Remembering Buffalo’s Best: The Victims of NY Market’s Mass Shooting

On Saturday, May 14, 2022, ten people were shot and killed, and another three were injured at a Tops Supermarket in Buffalo, NY. Eleven of the thirteen victims were black, and authorities believe the massacre was racially motivated. On Sunday night, the shooting victims’ identities were disclosed. Among the deceased were four supermarket employees, one former police lieutenant, a writer, several community leaders, mothers, fathers, sisters, and more. May their names and spirits live on.

Celestine Chaney, 65

A breast cancer survivor and loving grandmother of six, Celestine Chaney, was shopping with her sister on Saturday when the shooting occurred. Her grandson, Wayne Jones Jr., told CNN that Chaney was “always laughing” and that with her, there was never “a dull moment.” “The whole family is devastated,” Jones Jr. said.

Roberta Drury, 32

According to family members and friends, if you knew Roberta Drury, you knew love. A “happy person” with a “good heart,” Ms. Drury moved to Buffalo around eight years ago to help care for her brother, Christopher Drury, who battled leukemia. She loved song, dance, and Whitney Houston. She would have turned 33 in August.

Andre Mackneil, 55

Described as a loving and caring father and community advocate, Andre Mackneil of Auburn, NY, was at Tops to pick up a surprise birthday cake for his son when he was gunned down.

Katherine Massey, 72

Katherine “Kat” Massey used her “powerful, powerful voice” to advocate for civil rights and education in Buffalo’s black community and more stringent federal regulation of firearms. Last year, Massey penned a letter to The Buffalo News regarding escalating gun violence in Buffalo and other major U.S. cities. Massey was also a member of We Are Women Warriors, a group founded to provide information to aid and educate the community on environmental, socio-economic, and criminal justice issues. Massey is remembered as a sincere, thoughtful, and honest writer who will be “greatly missed by the entire community.”

Margus Morrison, 52

Margus Morrison stopped at Tops supermarket Saturday afternoon to buy chicken for dinner. His companion, Regina Patterson, says she received a call shortly after that there had been a shooting at the store. “He was a beautiful guy, just loving and caring, and he took care of me and his children. He was our hero, and there’s nothing that he wouldn’t do for us and his mom,” Patterson said.

Heyward Patterson, 67

A father of three and man of worship, Heyward Patterson is remembered for his spirit of servitude. He was a deacon at State Tabernacle Church of God in Christ and regularly drove the church van to pick up members without transportation. He also volunteered at Plate of Love, a local soup kitchen, where he would lift customers’ spirits with much-needed encouragement. Known by his friends as Tenny, Patterson was providing a safe ride home for shoppers with no vehicle on Saturday before the shooting occurred. “He loved his children…and he loved God. That’s all he wanted to do, help people,” Leonard Lane said.

Aaron Salter Jr., 55

Four years ago, Aaron Salter, Jr. retired from the Buffalo Police Department after thirty years on the job. He was working as a security guard at Tops Supermarket on Saturday, May 14, 2022, when he approached the gunman and fired shots at him in an attempt to stop him. Unfortunately, he was unable to penetrate the body armor of the perpetrator before being struck down by gunfire. Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, “Former Buffalo Police Lieutenant Aaron Salter died a hero trying to stop the shooter and protect others in the community.” Speaking to the Daily Beast, Salter’s son, Aaron Salter III, echoed the mayor’s sentiments saying, “I’m pretty sure he saved some lives today. He’s a hero.”

Geraldine Talley, 62

Family and friends remember Geraldine Talley as an excellent cook and baker, a nice person, and a beautiful soul. Born in Alabama, Talley spent most of her life in Buffalo. On Saturday, she and her fiancé, Gregory Allen, went to Tops for a quick shopping trip before the melee occurred. Allen survived; Talley did not. Talley’s friend and coworker, Joshua Kellick, remembers Talley as an “absolute saint.” She loved her family and those that weren’t family; she treated us like one of her own. Her loss is one that will be felt in the community,” he said.

Ruth Whitfield, 86

A loving wife of 68 years, a devoted mother of four, and a beloved grandmother, Ruth Whitfield was an “86-year-old powerhouse.” She visited her husband every day in the nursing home for eight years, according to her son, Garnell Whitfield, a former Buffalo fire chief. At a press conference yesterday, her family expressed their anger speaking alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Addressing the shooter, Ruth Whitfield’s daughter Robin said, “How dare you?” She continued, “My mom was my best friend. We went fishing together. We went camping together.” Her daughter Angela added, “She was beautiful. She was immaculate, and she loved us.”

Pearl Young, 77

To those who knew and loved her, Pearl “Pearly” Young was a Godsend. She moved to Buffalo in 1967 after marrying her husband, Oliver Young Jr., and helped run their church’s soup kitchen for 25 years. She worked tirelessly as a mother, pastor’s wife, Sunday school and substitute teacher, and head of a local food pantry. “Her life was full of giving,” said brother-in-law, Bishop Glenwood H. Young. “Whatever she could do for people, she did that.”

Today, Tops announced that it partnered with the National Compassion Fund to develop the Buffalo 5/14 Survivors Fund to provide direct financial assistance to the survivors of the deceased. One hundred percent of the contributions will go directly to survivors and victims of the tragedy. Tops has dedicated $500,000 to start the fund. For more ways to help survivors and the Buffalo community, visit here.