It was the most harrowing experience of his life, but Tops Markets employee Jerome Bridges can’t stop himself from returning to the Jefferson Avenue grocery store where 10 people were massacred and he narrowly escaped harm last weekend.
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Photos: Vigil at Tops Markets the morning after Buffalo's worst mass shooting
Memorials, residents, police and lawmakers came to Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the morning after a gunman killed 10 and wounded three at the supermarket.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is interviewed by a media outlet outside the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul outside the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A Police command center is parked at the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Police maintain a perimeter around the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown walks across Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo outside the Tops Markets on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
The grandchildren of Lawrence Fogie hold hands while crossing Jefferson Avenue near the Tops Markets in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others. They were venturing out to find some syrup for their Sunday pancakes but having problems finding a an open store.
The grandchildren of Lawrence Fogie hold hands while walking down Landon Street past the police tape marking off a perimeter around the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Flowers on the sidewalk across the street from the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A makeshift memorial across the street from the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A Buffalo Police officer keeps watch at the perimeter of the crime scene around the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
New York Attorney General Letitia James mingles with community members during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
People comfort one another outside Tops on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others at the grocery store.
A woman prays during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A makeshift memorial outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A woman prays during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A couple consoles each other during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A prayerful embrace during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A prayerful embrace during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Mourners console each other during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Sharon Doyle holds a "Black Lives Matter" sign during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Sharon Doyle holds a "Black Lives Matter" sign as she arrives for a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Two women comfort each other during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A makeshift memorial outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Yvonne Woodard breaks down and cries as she is comforted by friend Yvette Mack outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Neighbor Yvette Mack expresses her shock as she takes in the scene outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
A trio prays together during a vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Protesters march down Jefferson Avenue following a prayer vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Protesters march down Jefferson Avenue following a prayer vigil outside Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
Women embrace at a makeshift memorial across the street from Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo on Sunday, May 15, 2022, the day after a gunman murdered 10 people and injured three others.
The Community Fridge organized a food drive at 257 East Ferry Street near Jefferson Avenue, as a way to help families affected by the mass shooting at Tops on Saturday, Sunday, May 15, 2022. They put the word out and hundreds came out to donate. Emry Moore helps Paulette Witherspoon take the food she's been given to her car.
The Community Fridge organized a food drive at 257 East Ferry Street near Jefferson Avenue, as a way to help families affected by the mass shooting at Tops on Saturday, Sunday, May 15, 2022. They put the word out and hundreds came out to donate. Volunteer Dima Maddah, left, gives Felicea Elliott some food.
The Community Fridge organized a food drive at 257 East Ferry Street near Jefferson Avenue, as a way to help families affected by the mass shooting at Tops on Saturday, Sunday, May 15, 2022. They put the word out and hundreds came out to donate. Volunteer Stephanie Joerger helps Doris Rowell with her bag. On right is Georgia Dean.
The Community Fridge organized a food drive at 257 East Ferry Street near Jefferson Avenue, as a way to help families affected by the mass shooting at Tops on Saturday, Sunday, May 15, 2022. They put the word out and hundreds came out to donate. Joyce Day, center in pink, and Lakeysha Stepney take some canned goods.
A woman grabs some baby food at a food drive organized by the Community Fridge at 257 East Ferry Street near Jefferson Avenue, as a way to help families affected by the mass shooting at Tops on Saturday, Sunday, May 15, 2022. They put the word out and hundreds came out to donate. A woman grabs some baby food.
The Community Fridge organized a food drive at 257 East Ferry Street near Jefferson Avenue, as a way to help families affected by the mass shooting at Tops on Saturday, Sunday, May 15, 2022. They put the word out and hundreds came out to donate. Chance Parker, left, and his daughters Navi, 5 mos. and Rachel, 5, and his fiance Lautheria Gaston would have been at Tops at the same time as the shooter if he hadn't been running late picking them up at their house.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul addresses people in attendance at Macedonia Baptist Church where they hosted a special interfaith prayer service Sunday.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul addresses people in attendance at Macedonia Baptist Church.
Pastor Julian Cook from Macedonia Baptist hosted an special interfaith prayer service Sunday.
Pastor Julian Cook from Macedonia Baptist Church hosted a special interfaith prayer service.
“What happened in your city is a tragedy and a horrific act of violence,” Adam Ruff of RMA Armament wrote to The Buffalo News. “RMA Armament is saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred in Buffalo ... Our products are intended for the protection of law-abiding private citizens, police departments and government partners.”
In chilling detail, the accused shooter laid out in a 180-page manifesto why he wanted to kill, how he came to believe a racist conspiracy theory and then recorded himself driving to a supermarket on Jefferson Avenue and carrying out the attack.
There is no bullet that will penetrate a demented ideology that makes every person of color an “other.” There is no armed self-defense against a warped idea of Americanism that filters down from politicians and talk show hosts to bring latent hatred to the surface with deadly consequences.
Heyward Patterson, 68, one of the 10 killed in Saturday's mass shooting, was a man of the community. There wasn’t anything he wasn’t willing to do to better his community, friends and family said. As a faith-based man, he felt it was his calling to give a helping hand to others and do things out the kindness of his heart.
Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue isn’t going anywhere, store officials said. But, first, Tops is prioritizing getting its employees access to counseling and its customers access to food while the store is closed.
Celestine Chaney went to Tops on Saturday afternoon with older sister JoAnn Daniels to get some shrimp her husband, Raymond, was in the mood for, and to pick up "her favorite" – strawberry shortcake. Instead of leaving the supermarket with cake cups, the strawberries and the shrimp, Chaney found herself trying in vain to flee a shooter.