Photos: A hero's farewell for Aaron Salter Jr.
From the Complete coverage: 10 killed, 3 wounded in mass shooting at Buffalo supermarket series
Hundreds of people bid farewell to retired Buffalo Police officer Aaron Salter Jr. during a memorial service at The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Salter was working as a security guard at Tops on Jefferson Avenue when he was killed in a shootout with the heavily armed gunman who killed 10 people in a racist attack. His actions have been credited with allowing several shoppers to escape to the back of the store, ultimately saving their lives.
At a funeral service, Salter was awarded the Buffalo Police Department's Medal of Honor, the highest honor that can be bestowed on an officer – "for his sheer bravery in taking on the face of evil in order to save lives," Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told mourners. "Aaron saved lives."
Saluting a hero
The flag-draped casket of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter Jr., who was killed in an exchange of gunfire with the Tops gunman while working at the store as a security guard, is carried out of The Chapel at Crosspoint after memorial services amid a salute on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Solemn duty
Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia carries the folded flag from the casket of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter to to Salter's family.
Lives of service
Mourners comfort each other as they arrive at the funeral for retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Healing hands
Mourners arrive for the funeral of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Display of force
A group of Buffalo Police officers arrive for the funeral of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Salutes
A Buffalo Fire Department honor guard salutes as family members arrive for the funeral of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Heavy security
Mourners pass a SWAT officer as they arrive at the funeral for retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Suffering the loss
Mourners embrace as they arrive for the funeral of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Honoring the fallen
Members of several local law enforcement agencies and the Patriot Guard salute as the family of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter arrives for his memorial on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Saluting the family
Members of several local law enforcement groups salute as the family arrives for the funeral of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
AG James
New York Attorney General Letitia James arrives for the funeral of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
BPD SWAT
Buffalo Police SWAT officers stand by as mourners arrive for the funeral of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Mourning a hero
Buffalo Police salute as the flag-draped casket of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter Jr. is carried out of The Chapel at Crosspoint after memorial services on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Line of duty
Buffalo Police salute as the flag-draped casket of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter Jr. is carried out of The Chapel at Crosspoint after memorial services on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Stars and stripes
A Buffalo Police honor guard folds the flag from the casket of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter at the end of memorial services on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Paying respects
A Buffalo Police officer salutes as the casket of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter is carried out of The Chapel at Crosspoint after memorial services on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Patriot Guard Rider
Members of the Patriot Guard Rider hold up flags outside the service for retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Riderless horse
The Erie County Sheriff mounted division leads a riderless horse at the service for retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter Jr. on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Motorcade
Police motorcycles lead the procession of retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter Jr. on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Honoring a neighbor
Office workers from buildings around Crosspoint line the street to pay respects as the procession for retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter passes as it departs The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Farewell salute
An Amherst Police officer salutes as the hearse carrying retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter Jr. departs The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Procession to Forest Lawn
The procession for retired Buffalo Police Officer Aaron Salter Jr. departs The Chapel at Crosspoint on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
In this Series
Complete coverage: 10 killed, 3 wounded in mass shooting at Buffalo supermarket
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Updated
Hochul pledges pursuit of justice after shooting, calls on sites to crack down on white supremacist content
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Updated
Sean Kirst: In Buffalo, hearing the song of a grieving child who 'could not weep anymore'
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Updated
Recently retired police officer, mother of former fire commissioner both killed in Tops shooting
- 250 updates
Three friends of Aaron Salter, the retired police officer killed in the Tops Markets massacre on May 14, are at the center of a scholarship at Hutchinson Central Technical High School, where Salter graduated almost 40 years ago. The annual award will go to a student “mechanically inclined and interested in improving upon existing technology in such a way that would make life easier and better for future generations,” someone whose work ethic and civic passion echo Salter’s.
At a funeral service at The Chapel in Getzville attended by hundreds, Salter was awarded the Buffalo Police Department's Medal of Honor, the highest honor that can be bestowed on an officer – "for his sheer bravery in taking on the face of evil in order to save lives," Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told mourners. "Aaron saved lives."
Ten people were gunned down at a Buffalo supermarket May 14 in a horrifying mass shooting that officials were quick to label as "pure evil" an…
