Officials say a 911 dispatcher hangs up a call from a Buffalo supermarket employee reporting a mass shooting has been suspended.
Latisha, an assistant manager at Tops Friendly Market, told news station WGRZ that she called 911 to report shots fired in the crowded supermarket on Saturday by self-professed white supremacist Payton Gendron, 18.
Latisha told WGRZ that she tried to call 911 while whispering because she could hear him close by. While calling 911, the dispatcher began yelling at me, saying, ‘Why are you whispering?’ ” There is no need to whisper.”
Although the dispatcher appeared to be unaware of the gunman’s presence, authorities say that a heavily-armed Gendron was already inside the supermarket, complete with body armor.
At this point, Latisha said she was “trying to tell her,” “like, ‘Ma’am, he’s in the store, he’s shooting, it’s an active shooter,'” After saying something absurd to me, she abruptly terminated our conversation. In addition, I had to call 911 with my boyfriend’s help.”
According to Erie County officials, “immediate action” was taken after the alleged incident occurred. County officials tell WGRZ that the person who made the call is now on administrative leave pending a disciplinary hearing that should take place within a few weeks.
As a result of proper dispatching, other 911 calls were able to be quickly responded to, according to the local station.
Authorities in Buffalo’s predominantly black neighborhood of Jefferson Avenue arrived in just two minutes, according to Mayor Byron Brown. Gendron was taken into custody on the spot. He has pleaded not guilty to the heinous murder of ten people.
WGRZ reported that the unidentified dispatcher could be disciplined or terminated. According to the Buffalo News, Latisha has worked for Tops Friendly Market for 13 years, including three years in Buffalo.
At True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York, on Sunday, she spoke about how she couldn’t shake the images of the carnage that had occurred the previous day.
She told the newspaper that she couldn’t sleep. It is possible for me to eat a small amount of food, but I can’t stop hearing gunshots and looking at the bodies.
Is there any hope for Latisha to return to work at the grocery store?
“That store is very important to that community,” she said of the small shop she mentioned. As soon as I started working at the company, I realized just how critical it was. That is their favorite store. “That’s just a terrible thing to go through in that community.”