Gun Parts Maker Pays $1.75M Settlement Over 2022 Buffalo Shooting

Settlement reached with Mean Arms over device used to convert rifle into assault weapon.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Nearly four years after a racially motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York supermarket left 10 Black people dead, the victims' families have reached a $1.75 million settlement with the firearms accessory company Mean Arms. The lawsuit accused Mean Arms of providing online instructions on how to remove a locking device it manufactured for AR-15-style rifles, allowing the shooter to convert the gun into an illegal assault weapon used in the attack.

Why it matters

The settlement highlights the ongoing legal battles over gun control and the role of firearms manufacturers in mass shootings. It also underscores the continued efforts by the Buffalo community to seek justice and accountability in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the shooter, Payton Gendron, followed Mean Arms' instructions to remove a device called the MA Lock, which prevented the rifle from accepting magazines with more than 10 rounds. Removing the lock allowed Gendron to attach a 30-round magazine and convert the gun into an illegal assault weapon that he used in the attack. As part of the settlement, Mean Arms agreed to permanently stop selling the MA Lock in New York and remove any statements claiming the device is legal in the state.

  • On May 14, 2022, the gunman opened fire at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, killing 10 Black shoppers and injuring 3 others.
  • In November 2022, Gendron pleaded guilty to 15 state charges, including domestic terrorism motivated by hate, murder and attempted murder.
  • Gendron is scheduled to face a federal trial this coming summer, where he could receive the death penalty if convicted.

The players

Mean Arms

A Georgia-based manufacturer of firearms accessories, including the MA Lock device that was used to convert the rifle into an assault weapon.

Letitia James

The New York Attorney General who filed the lawsuit against Mean Arms, along with the group Everytown for Gun Safety and the Giffords Law Center.

Payton Gendron

The 18-year-old self-professed white supremacist who carried out the mass shooting at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo.

Garnell Whitfield

The former Buffalo fire chief whose 86-year-old mother, Ruth Whitfield, was killed in the massacre.

Kathy Hochul

The Governor of New York, who expressed gratitude for the Attorney General's partnership in seeking justice and working to keep New Yorkers safe.

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What they’re saying

“Today, justice looks like accountability, and we have ensured that this device will never be sold in our state again.”

— Letitia James, New York Attorney General (ktlo.com)

“This has not been an easy fight and no amount of money will ever make up for the loss of our loved ones, but through this courageous action and in this instance, justice has prevailed and this settlement will provide additional fuel for the fight ahead.”

— Garnell Whitfield, Former Buffalo fire chief (ktlo.com)

“We will never forget and stop fighting for our 10 neighbors who were senselessly taken away from us in a tragic, racist act of terror. As we continue to help the families and community heal, I'm grateful to the Attorney General for her partnership in seeking justice for those impacted and working to keep New Yorkers safe by ensuring our nation-leading gun laws are being followed.”

— Kathy Hochul, Governor of New York (ktlo.com)

What’s next

Gendron is scheduled to face a federal trial this coming summer, where he could receive the death penalty if convicted.

The takeaway

This settlement highlights the ongoing legal battles over gun control and the role of firearms manufacturers in mass shootings. It also underscores the continued efforts by the Buffalo community to seek justice and accountability in the aftermath of the tragedy, and the importance of ensuring that gun laws are being followed to prevent such senseless acts of violence.