Gun Accessory Manufacturer Settles Buffalo Shooting Lawsuit for $1.75 Million
Mean Arms, a Georgia-based manufacturer of a gun accessory, will pay $1.75 million to survivors and victims' families of the 2022 Buffalo supermarket shooting. The company has also agreed to cease selling the device in New York state, as announced by state Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday.
This agreement resolves a lawsuit filed by Attorney General James.
Separately, victims' families and survivors also reached agreements to settle their claims against gunman Payton Gendron’s family and gun seller Vintage Firearms LLC.
The Device at the Center of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit against Mean Arms centered on a device designed to lock a magazine onto a rifle. This device was intended to prevent the use of high-capacity magazines, which are illegal in New York. Attorney General James stated that Gendron was able to remove this lock from an AR-15-style rifle and use high-capacity magazines. Notably, the company's product packaging reportedly included instructions on how to remove the lock.
Other Settlements and Company Closures
Everytown Law, representing some clients, confirmed that Vintage Firearms has permanently closed. Its owner has also agreed not to seek a federal firearms license in the future. Settlements reached with Gendron's parents remain confidential.
The Shooter's Actions and Legal Status
Authorities indicated that Gendron, who is white, specifically targeted Tops supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood. The victims of the attack ranged in age from 32 to 86.
Gendron pleaded guilty to multiple state charges, including murder, in November 2022 and is serving a life sentence without parole. A trial for federal hate crime and weapons charges is anticipated to begin this year, with Gendron having pleaded not guilty. The Justice Department has stated its intention to seek the death penalty in the federal case.