Buffalo, NY – In a ceremony at the historic Apollo Theater on Monday, State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie unveiled a $12 million state capital grant that will fund the first phase of the 5:14 Living Memorial and Healing Center. The project, slated to rise at the intersection of Jefferson and Best streets, will provide a permanent tribute to the victims of the May 14, 2022 Tops massacre and a place of solace for survivors and their families.
Funding secured for a $25 million vision
Heastie explained that the $12 million contribution is part of a broader $25 million budget for the memorial complex. “There is no better way to spend state money than to memorialize what happened on May 14, 2022,” he said, emphasizing the importance of remembering the tragedy while moving forward as a community.
Community reaction
Local residents expressed a mixture of grief and hope. Grady, an East Side community member, said, “I’m not the same person that I was. I’m scared now. I’ve never been scared in my life, and we need to do better as a people in this country.” The sentiment reflects the lingering trauma felt by many who lost loved ones or were directly impacted by the shooting.
State Senate Majority Leader Crystal Peoples‑Stokes added that the nation must confront the hatred that fueled the attack. “He was not born with that hate because no one’s born with hate. Someone fed that into him,” she said, urging a broader societal response to prevent future violence.
Lawmakers call for stronger gun safety
During the announcement, Heastie also warned that the United States cannot avoid a reckoning on its obsession with firearms. “Until this country has a reckoning with its obsession with guns, you can just count it down to the next time it’s going to happen,” he said, criticizing judges who interpret the Constitution as granting an unrestricted right to own semi‑automatic rifles.
Western New York Congressman Tim Kennedy was on hand to highlight his own legislation, the “Lieutenant Aaron Salter Jr. Responsible Body Armor Possession Act,” named for the security guard who confronted the shooter. Kennedy praised Salter as a hero and argued that high‑grade body armor should be limited to the military and law‑enforcement, not civilians.
Personal stories underscore the need
Buffalo District Councilwoman Zeneta Everhart spoke through tears, noting that her son Zaire is one of three survivors currently preparing for the federal death‑penalty trial of Payton Gendron. “My heart is exploding right now,” Everhart said, adding that the funding will help families like hers focus on healing rather than financial strain.
Everhart told reporters she could not wait to share the news with her son, saying, “I’m sorry, I’m trying to hold back tears, but I can’t wait to go pick him up and tell him we got all the money.”
Looking ahead
The memorial and healing center will feature a museum space, a reflective garden, and counseling facilities designed to support victims’ families for years to come. Construction is expected to begin later this year, pending final design approvals.
Local leaders and faith‑based groups have pledged to assist with volunteer efforts and future fundraising, reinforcing the community’s commitment to honoring the lives lost while fostering resilience.
As the state moves forward with this investment, officials hope the project will serve as both a solemn reminder of the tragedy and a beacon of hope for a safer, more compassionate Buffalo.
Original reporting: WKBW 7 Buffalo (Buffalo section) — read the source article.
