Mourners gathered Wednesday to honor Aaron Salter Jr., the security guard and ex-Buffalo police officer who died in an exchange of gunfire while trying to stop suspected supermarket shooter Payton Gendron.
Salter Jr. was laid to rest in Getzville, NY, a hamlet just north of Buffalo. The ceremony involved full police honors, despite his being retired from the force.
“He is getting full honors — line-of-duty death honors,” Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told Buffalo News 4. “We are going to see him off for his family with every honor this police department and the city can give him.”
A person holds a program honoring Aaron Salter Jr. during his funeral service. AP Photo/Joshua Bessex
A hearse carrying the casket for Aaron Salter Jr. leaves after a funeral service in Getzville, New York. AP Photo/Joshua Bessex
Salter shot at Gendron, but was unable to stop the alleged shooter who was wearing body armor.
Salter Jr. was a Buffalo cop for 30 years before retiring. He’d worked for Tops Friendly Market for four years at the time of the shooting.
Police say Salter Jr. opened fire on Gendron early in the rampage but was unable to stop the shooter, who was wearing body armor and a ballistic-rated helmet. Gendron allegedly returned fire, killing Salter.
Law enforcement officer saluting as Salter’s family enters The Chapel at Crosspoint in Buffalo on May 25, 2022. REUTERS/Jeffrey T. Barnes
According to Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, Salter’s ceremony included full police officer “line-of-duty death honors.” AP Photo/Joshua Bessex
Salter was a police officer for 30 years before retiring. REUTERS/Jeffrey T. Barnes