Payton Gendron the man accused of shooting dead 10 Black people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, in May was scheduled on Monday to appear in the Buffalo courtroom of US Magistrate Judge Kenneth Schroeder at 11 a.m. local time, when he may enter a plea on 14 hate crimes violations and 13 firearms offenses.
Gendron, who was 18 at the time of the mass shooting, is currently in state custody facing 10 counts of first-degree murder and 10 counts of second-degree murder in state court.
Gendron could face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted on the federal charges. Prosecutors must notify the court prior to trial whether they will seek a death sentence.
Federal prosecutors returned the indictment against Gendron on Thursday, the same day that the Tops Friendly Markets store - the site of the shooting - held a moment of silence and prayer to commemorate the two-month anniversary of the May 14 attack.