A gun accessories firm based in Georgia will pay $1.75 million to the families affected by the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting, which left several people dead and injured. As part of the agreement announced on Wednesday, the company, known as Mean LLC or Mean Arms, will also halt the sale of its contentious lock-in magazines.
This settlement arises from a lawsuit initiated by New York State Attorney General Letitia James and another civil lawsuit from the victims’ families.
“What happened at Tops Buffalo was an unbearable tragedy,” James expressed in a statement, reflecting on the loss of ten lives to a horrific act of violence fueled by hatred. “No sum of money can restore these lives or erase the pain endured by our communities,” she added. “Today’s justice embodies accountability, ensuring this device will never be sold in our state again.”
The tragic event, which unfolded on May 14, 2022, was perpetrated by Peyton Gendron, resulting in the deaths of ten Black individuals and injuries to three others at the Tops Friendly Market in Western New York. Federal prosecutors revealed that Gendron, then 18, live-streamed the attack and specifically targeted victims in what was deemed a racially motivated hate crime, systematically planned and executed.
In 2023, Gendron was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
James’s office pointed out that Mean Arms was marketing its “MA lock” device as compliant with New York state regulations. However, it was easily removable, allowing users to modify their weapons to accommodate high-capacity magazines. They noted that the Buffalo shooter had bought a semi-automatic rifle equipped with an MA lock and a 10-round magazine. Following instructions from Mean Arms, he was able to swap in 30-round magazines the day of the shooting, enabling him to fire without interruptions.
As part of the settlement, the company will cease all sales of MA Locks in New York and will retract any misleading claims regarding their legality in the state. They must also communicate to all businesses and individuals that this product is not to be sold or resold in New York.
In a statement from James’s office, attorney Andrew Devins, representing several victims’ families, asserted, “While no sum can truly reimburse for the horrors of that day, this settlement signifies a win in our ongoing struggle against hate and those who foster it.”
