Tops dedicates memorial to Buffalo shooting victims

Workers removed the cover surrounding the 5/14 honor space Tuesday morning in front of the Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue, where 10 black people were killed in a racist attack two years ago.

The space was designed and built in collaboration with members of the Jefferson community.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon, including a moment of silence and the ringing of bells to mark the moment the mass shooting began.

The honor space includes a sculpture called “Unity” designed by Buffalo artist Valeria Cray and her son Hiram, as well as 10 granite markers honoring the slain victims: Celestine Chaney, Roberta Drury, Andrew Mackniel, Katherine Massey, Margus Morrison, Rev. Heyward Patterson, Aaron Salter, Geraldine Talley, Ruth Whitfield and Pearl Young.

Tops CEO John Persons joined Scripps News Buffalo’s 7 Voices on Tuesday and reflected on the 5/14 Honor Space.

As Western New York mourns with the families, Scripps News Buffalo also wants to share stories that honor their memory:

Aaron Salter
Ruth Whitfield
Roberta Drury
Pearl Young
Catherine Massey
Margus Morrison
Celestine Chaney
Geraldine Talley
Andrew Mackniel
Heyward Patterson

This story was originally published by the WKBW news team at Scripps News Buffalo.