Topical Sean Kirst: A frantic call, a relieved family: 'Grandma, are you at Tops?' From the Complete coverage: 10 killed, 3 wounded in mass shooting at Buffalo supermarket series By Sean Kirst May 17, 2022 May 17, 2022 Updated Feb 17, 2026 0 Eva Doyle, if front of the Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Library in Buffalo, Monday, May 16, 2022. Mark Mulville/Buffalo News Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save By Sean Kirst Normally, on a Saturday afternoon, Eva Doyle would have been at the Jefferson Avenue Tops Market, not far from her home near Broadway.kAm}@C>2==J[ E96 6G6CJ@?6\<?@HD\96C 4@>>F?:EJ 9:DE@C:2?[ HC:E6C 2?5 ;@FC?2=:DE @7E6? 42==65 “|@E96C s@J=6” H@F=5 92G6 8@?6 :? 2?5 :>>65:2E6=J DE@4<65 FA H:E9 3@EE=65 H2E6C ?62C E96 6?EC2?46 – D96 92D D@ >F49 @7 :E[ ;FDE :? 42D6 @7[ D2J[ 2 3=:KK2C5 @C 2? :46 DE@C>[ E92E 96C D@? y6DD6 C624ED H:E9 2DE@?:D9>6?E – 2?5 E96? D96 H@F=5 92G6 6I492?865 96C FDF2= 8C66E:?8 H:E9 p2C@? $2=E6C[ E96 D64FC:EJ 8F2C5 H9@ @776C65 H2C> 96==@D E@ 6G6CJ@?6]k^AmkAm$96 H@F=5 92G6 A:4<65 FA 3C625 @? 96C H2J E@ E96 56=:[ H96C6 D96 H@F=5 @C56C E96 EFC<6J 2?E:A2DE@ D96 =@G6D 3FE @7 H9:49 C6=F4E2?E=J D96 :D Q4FEE:?8 324<[Q H9:=6 D2G@C:?8 E96 2C@>2 @7 E96 =686?52CJ %@AD 7C:65 49:4<6? – “~9 >J {@C5P” tG2 D2:5 @7 2 DE@C6 72G@C:E6 E92E C68F=2CD 5C:G6 >:=6D E@ 3FJ – 367@C6 A:4<:?8 FA @C2?86 ;F:46 2?5 688D[ C624E:?8 2== E96 E:>6 E@ ?6:893@CD H2?56C:?8 A2DE[ A2FD:?8 7@C 2 Qw@H :D 6G6CJE9:?8nQ @C EH@ H:E9 =@?8\28@ DEF56?ED C64@8?:K65 3J s@J=6[ 2 C6E:C65 E62496C[ :? E96:C 9@H\42?\E9:D\36 25F=E :?42C?2E:@?D]k^Am People are also reading… A year of transformation for the Saltville PD Adding river float trips in Chilhowie is one tourism goal Marion OKs adding fee to delinquent taxes to help collect them Meet Smyth’s Pet of the Week: Diamond Smyth County's Val Mutter: An Unsung Legal Hero Spanberger sends message with appointments to higher ed panel Smyth School Board celebrates student achievements Update: One victim, gunman dead after shooting in ODU classroom Virginia General Assembly going to special session to resolve budget standoff Pentagon eyes Virginia Tech for senior officers in place of ‘woke’ Ivy League Woolly mourns creator, makes forecast Update: ODU students disarmed and killed gunman who attacked classroom, source says US military refueling plane goes down in Iraq; 4 dead as rescue efforts continue Man killed in ODU shooting identified as head of university’s Army ROTC Film debut draws overflow crowd kAm%96D6 H6C6 86?E=6 $2EFC52J 27E6C?@@?D 2E %@AD[ H96C6 J@F?8 H@C<6CD H@F=5 4966C7F==J 96=A AFE 96C 8C@46C:6D :? E96 42C[ 2 A=246 D@ 72>:=:2C :E H2D 2=>@DE =:<6 9@>6 :ED6=7] qFE s@J=6[ 2 76H 52JD 28@[ >256 “2 =2DE\D64@?5 492?86 @7 A=2?DQ E92E @? E9:D @?6 $2EFC52J <6AE 96C 2H2J 7C@> E96 DE@C6]k^AmkAm$96 :D 2 fe\J62C\@=5 4@?8C682?E 2E u:CDE $9:=@9 q2AE:DE r9FC49] $96 H2?E65 E@ H62C 2 DF:E @? $F?52J D96 925 5C@AA65 @77 7@C 2=E6C2E:@?D 2E w@3D@?VD r=62?6CD[ 2?5 $2EFC52J 27E6C?@@? H2D 96C =2DE 492?46 E@ A:4< :E FA]k^Am kAm$@ D96 H6?E E@ w@3D@?VD :?DE625 @7 8C@46CJ D9@AA:?8 2?5 E9@F89E ?@E9:?8 @7 :E[ H9:49 :D H9J :E 3277=65 96C H96? 96C 46==A9@?6 D@@? H2D 3FKK:?8 2?5 H@F=5 ?@E DE@A] $E2CE=65[ s@J=6 A:4<65 :E FA E@ 962C 2 8C2?552F89E6C[ $@>2=:2[ 2D<:?8 H:E9 762C :? 96C G@:46i “vC2?5>2[ 2C6 J@F 2E %@ADn”k^Am Sean Kirst: In Buffalo, hearing the song of a grieving child who 'could not weep anymore' Lives of untouchable meaning wiped out, officials say, because of rigid, shallow poison.It is a blasphemy. This is Buffalo. Each of the dead is us,True communion that may be our one searing path forward. kAm“}@[” D2:5 2 AFKK=65 s@J=6] “(92E 5@ J@F >62?n”k^AmkAm$96 925 ?@E 962C5] $96 5:5 ?@E J6E <?@H E92E $2=E6C 925 EC:65 E@ DE@A 2? 244FD65 `g\J62C\@=5 >FC56C6C 7C@> 6?E6C:?8 E96 DE@C6[ 2 H9:E6 >2? 36?E @? <:==:?8 q=24< p>6C:42?D[ 2?5 =@DE 9:D @H? =:76 :? 5@:?8 D@]k^AmkAm$96 5:5 ?@E J6E <?@H E96 =:DE @7 `_ H9@ 5:65 H@F=5 :?4=F56 w6JH2C5 !2EE6CD@?[ 2 5624@? 2E $E2E6 %236C?24=6 r9FC49 @7 v@5]U?3DAj$96 C642==65 9@H D96 >6E 9:> H96? 96 H2=<65 @G6C E@ 96C E23=6 =@?8 28@ H9:=6 E96J H6C6 3@E9 92G:?8 3C62<72DE 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i|2??2o}@CE9=2?5Qm|2??2o}@CE9=2?5k^2m 2?5 96 D2:5 96 C64@8?:K65 96C U?52D9j s@J=6[ H9@ HC:E6D 7@C %96 rC:E6C:@?[ :D 2 AC6D6?46 7@C 2== 96C 4@>>F?:EJ H@C< :? qF772=@ U?52D9j 2?5 E92E 96 H2D 8=25 E@ 7:?2==J D2J 96==@]k^Am kAmp?5 D96 5:5 ?@E J6E <?@H E92E z2E96C:?6 |2DD6J – 96C =@?8E:>6 7C:6?5 2?5 2 4:G:4 24E:G:DE H9@ =@G65 E@ HC:E6 – 925 5:65 2E fa 27E6C DE@AA:?8 3J 2 %@AD E92E 3642>6 2 3FDJ 4@>>F?:EJ 9F3 H96? :E @A6?65 `h J62CD 28@[ :? 2 ?6:893@C9@@5 =24<:?8 DF49 2 DE@C6 7@C E@@ =@?8]k^AmkAm“$96 H2D 2 HC:E6C[” s@J=6 D2:5 @7 |2DD6J[ H9@> D96 25>:C65[ “2?5 HC:E6CD 4@??64E]”k^Am Central Terminal: 'A treasure that can never be replaced' Here are just a few of the dozens of emotional replies we received when we asked readers to share their favorite memories of the terminal. kAm}@H E9:D D49@=2C :? 4@>>F?:EJ 96C:E286 7:?5D 96CD6=7 2== E@@ 4=@D6 E@ D62C:?8 9:DE@CJ ?@ 4:EJ D9@F=5 6?5FC6] s@J=6 2AA62C65 |@?52J @? r}} E@ @776C EC:3FE6 E@ |2DD6J[ H9:=6 DF49 @FE=6ED 2D (qu~ C25:@ 92G6 2=D@ D@F89E 96C G@:46] $96 6>3C246D E96 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2D 2 492?46 E@ E62C 5@H? E96 =:6D 2?5 56=FD:@?D E92E 2 H9:E6 DFAC6>24:DE 42CC:65 E@ 2 ?6:893@C9@@5 D96 =@G6D]k^Am Katherine Massey, in an image taken in 2011. Buffalo News file photo kAm“*@F 92G6 @=56C A6@A=6 H9@ DFCG:G65 r@G:5 8@ E@ E96 DE@C6[ 2?5 E96? E9:Dn” D2:5 s@J=6[ ?@E:?8 9@H E96 A2?56>:4 562E9 E@== >@G65 36J@?5 ` >:==:@? :? C646?E 52JD] “p== E92E H:D5@>[ E96 7@F?52E:@? @7 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2== E9@D6 4@?EC:3FE:@?D[ D@ >F49 2=C625J 8@?6 – 2?5 E96? E9:Dn”k^AmkAm$96 8C6H 6G6? 2?8C:6C H96? D96 C625 @7 E96 >25?6DD E92E =65 E@ E96 2EE24<[ 9@H E96 <:==6C H2D :?42A23=6 @7 F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 7F?52>6?E2= 9F>2?:EJ @7 2 ?6:893@C9@@5 96 567:=65] s@J=6VD =2E6 9FD32?5[ #@>6@[ H2D 2 G6E6C2? @7 E96 z@C62? (2C] %96J 3F:=E E96:C 9@>6 :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 49@D6 E@ DE2J[ 2?5 D96 D2:5 J@F 42? H2=< 2?J DEC66E H:E9:? >2?J 3=@4<D @7 H96C6 D96 DE@@5 |@?52J @? y6776CD@? pG6?F6 2?5 7:?5 2 =68:@? @7 H@>6? 2?5 >6? H9@ >256 D:>:=2C 4@>>:E>6?ED]k^Am kAm“w@H 52C6 J@Fn” D96 D2:5 @7 E96 <:==6C] “w@H 52C6 J@F 4@>6 96C6 7C@> 72C 2H2J[ :?E@ @FC ?6:893@C9@@5[ 2?5 D2J H6 92G6 ?@ G2=F6 2?5 E2<6 E96 =:G6D @7 G6E6C2?D 2?5 E2IA2J6CD 2?5 D6?:@C 4:E:K6?D H9@ 92G6 DA6?E E96:C H9@=6 =:G6D H@C<:?8 7@C H92E E96J 92G6n”k^AmkAm*6D[ D96 DA6?5D >F49 @7 96C =:76 ECJ:?8 E@ 62D6 E96 DF776C:?8 2?5 DECF88=6 :? 2C62D 2C@F?5 96C 9@>6] qFE >2?J @7 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 5:8 :? 2?5 C6>2:?[ s@J=6 D2:5[ 2C6 E96C6 3642FD6 @7 56G@E:@? E@ E96:C ?6:893@CD] $96 E9@F89E @7 |2DD6J[ 2?5 9@H E96 EH@ 7C:6?5D @?46 2EE6?565 2 C2==J 282:?DE 8F?D @? E96 DEC66ED E92E H2D AFE E@86E96C 3J }62= s@33:?D[ 2 C6G6C65 ?6:893@C9@@5 24E:G:DE 2?5 G@=F?E66C H9@ =2E6C 5:65 7C@> r@G:5\`h] %96 H@>6? H2=<65 2H2J 27E6CH2C5 D:56\3J\D:56[ 2?5 H96? s@J=6 2D<65 :7 |2DD6J ?66565 2 C:56[ D96 C6DA@?565ik^Am kAm“|@E96C s@J=6[ x =:G6 C:89E 5@H? E96 DEC66E]”k^AmkAm(6 DA@<6 |@?52J @FED:56 E96 |6CC:H62E96C qC2?49 {:3C2CJ[ H96C6 2? 2F5:E@C:F> ?2>65 :? s@J=6’D 9@?@C H2D A24<65 H:E9 4@?46C?65 4@F?D6=@CD 2?5 25G@42E6D[ E96C6 E@ 96=A :? E96 H2<6 @7 E96 G:@=6?46] s@H? E96 DEC66E J@F 4@F=5 D66 E96 E2A65\@77 A2C<:?8 =@E @FED:56 %@AD[ 2?5 %6C6?46 w2>AE@?[ ed[ A2FD65 E@ @776C 2 E2=6 D:>:=2C E@ s@J=6’D]k^AmkAmw6 925 A=2??65 @? 36:?8 2E %@AD $2EFC52J[ 3FE 7@F?5 9:>D6=7 CF??:?8 369:?5] w2>AE@? 925 :?E6?565 E@ 8@ E96C6 H:E9 9:D f\J62C\@=5 8C2?5D@? |:<62=[ 2?5 96 C642==65 9@H @?6 @7 E9@D6 H9@ 5:65 – #@36CE2 sCFCJ[ ba – FD65 E@ <:5 |:<62=[ H96?6G6C D96 D2H 9:>[ 23@FE 9@H 96 H2D D@ 92?5D@>6 E92E D@>652J D96 H@F=5 >2CCJ 9:>]k^Am kAmw2>AE@? 2=D@ <?6H |2DD6J[ 2?5 96 649@65 s@J=6’D E2=6 23@FE $2=E6Cik^AmkAm%96 7@C>6C A@=:46 @77:46C 2=H2JD H6=4@>65 :?5:G:5F2= 4FDE@>6CD[ F?E:= 96 5:65 ECJ:?8 E@ D2G6 E96>] Qp 96C@ 7@C 9:D 4@F?ECJ[Q D2:5 w2>AE@?[ H9@ C6DA@?5D E@ E96 :562 @7 2 9@>:4:52= >2? DA:==:?8 @G6C H:E9 DF49 C24:2= >2=:46 2D 6G:56?46 @7 2? 6G6? =2C86C >2=25J 2?5 ECFE9ik^Am Sean Kirst: Neal Dobbins' death means loss of a voice for peace in Buffalo The death of Neal Dobbins, founder of Most Valuable Parents of Buffalo, on Tuesday from Covid-19 has touched off a cascade of grief in the community. kAm“%92E <:?5 @7 92E6[” 96 D2:5[ “:E 2=>@DE 92D E@ 36 :?86DE65 2D 2? :?72?E]”k^AmkAmpD 7@C s@J=6[ D96 6?5FC65 2 DEC@<6 7:G6 J62CD 28@ E92E 7@C 2 E:>6 DEC:AA65 96C @7 96C DA6649[ F?E:= A2E:6?E H@C< 5FC:?8 C64@G6CJ =67E 96C “DEC@?86C E92? 6G6C]” $96 H@F=5 =:<6 E@ D66 :E H96? !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56? 2?5 9:D H:76[ y:==[ 2AA62C %F6D52J :? qF772=@ 2D 2 D9@H @7 DFAA@CE[ 3FE @?=J :7 D96 :D DFC6 D96 42? 86E 4=@D6 6?@F89 H:E9 2== E96 32CC:6CD 2?5 4C@H5D]k^Am kAm%96 @?=J C62D@? D96 H2D ?@E :? %@AD @? $2EFC52J H2D 3642FD6 D96 49@D6 E@ >2<6 E92E DE@A 2E E96 4=62?6CD] $96 D2:5 D96 2=>@DE 564:565 E96 ?6IE 52J[ :? 8C:67 2?5 D9@4<[ 282:?DE 2EE6?5:?8 49FC49 2E u:CDE $9:=@9] qFE E96? D96 E9@F89E @7 2== E96 A6@A=6 D96 42C65 23@FE H9@ 5:65[ 2?5 D96 925 E96 D2>6 C6DA@?D6 E@ 2== E9:D >FC56C6C H2D 96==\36?E E@ 56DEC@J]k^AmkAmw@H 52C6 96nk^AmkAm$F?52J >@C?:?8[ |@E96C s@J=6 – :? E96 DF:E E92E 925 <6AE 96C @FE @7 92C>VD H2J – H2D E96C6 E@ AC2J] k^Am Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Buffalo News. Email him at skirst@buffnews.com. In this Series Complete coverage: 10 killed, 3 wounded in mass shooting at Buffalo supermarket Updated Feb 17, 2026 Hochul pledges pursuit of justice after shooting, calls on sites to crack down on white supremacist content Updated Feb 17, 2026 Sean Kirst: In Buffalo, hearing the song of a grieving child who 'could not weep anymore' Updated Feb 17, 2026 Recently retired police officer, mother of former fire commissioner both killed in Tops shooting 250 updates Previous Next 0 Comments Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story 'The world needs to know we’re hurting here in Buffalo': A grieving community gathers to see President Biden Dozens gathered at a police blockade at Jefferson Avenue and East Utica Street, as close as they could get to where the president and first la… Sean Kirst: In heart of Buffalo, after lethal madness, young 'brotherhood' shares tears, anger and hope “Too often you can walk around with a hard shell when inside you feel like you’re disintegrating,” said Tommy McClam, who with Daniel Robertso… Sean Kirst: For mother and son, a two-month journey to travel a few blocks to Tops For Anna Smith and her son Malik Stubbs, the reopening of Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue marked a meaningful moment of healing. Sean Kirst: On Cherry Street, what 'Kat' would want – a Fruit Belt Christmas If ever a community needed the Yuletide, here it was. Watch Now: Related Video Iran warns UAE about possible attack on U.S military 'hideouts', urges citizens to evacuate Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in the coming days Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold direct talks in the coming days Iran allows limited Indian shipping through Strait of Hormuz Iran allows limited Indian shipping through Strait of Hormuz Owen Jackson game-tying shot Owen Jackson game-tying shot
Sean Kirst: In Buffalo, hearing the song of a grieving child who 'could not weep anymore' Lives of untouchable meaning wiped out, officials say, because of rigid, shallow poison.It is a blasphemy. This is Buffalo. Each of the dead is us,True communion that may be our one searing path forward.
Central Terminal: 'A treasure that can never be replaced' Here are just a few of the dozens of emotional replies we received when we asked readers to share their favorite memories of the terminal.
Sean Kirst: Neal Dobbins' death means loss of a voice for peace in Buffalo The death of Neal Dobbins, founder of Most Valuable Parents of Buffalo, on Tuesday from Covid-19 has touched off a cascade of grief in the community.
'The world needs to know we’re hurting here in Buffalo': A grieving community gathers to see President Biden Dozens gathered at a police blockade at Jefferson Avenue and East Utica Street, as close as they could get to where the president and first la…
Sean Kirst: In heart of Buffalo, after lethal madness, young 'brotherhood' shares tears, anger and hope “Too often you can walk around with a hard shell when inside you feel like you’re disintegrating,” said Tommy McClam, who with Daniel Robertso…
Sean Kirst: For mother and son, a two-month journey to travel a few blocks to Tops For Anna Smith and her son Malik Stubbs, the reopening of Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue marked a meaningful moment of healing.
Sean Kirst: On Cherry Street, what 'Kat' would want – a Fruit Belt Christmas If ever a community needed the Yuletide, here it was.
