Gun-parts Maker Settles Lawsuit Over 2022 Buffalo Mass Shooting

Mean Arms to pay $1.75 million over device used in deadly attack

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 company was accused of providing 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

This settlement holds Mean Arms accountable for its role in the deadly 2022 Buffalo shooting and ensures the device at the center of the lawsuit will no longer be sold in New York. The case highlights ongoing efforts to enforce gun laws and restrict access to high-capacity firearms and accessories that can be used to circumvent regulations.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the shooter, Payton Gendron, followed Mean Arms' instructions to remove the MA Lock device from his Bushmaster XM-15 rifle, allowing him to attach a 30-round magazine and convert the gun into an illegal assault weapon used in the attack. The removal of the lock enabled Gendron to kill 10 people and injure 3 others without having to stop and reload.

  • The shooting occurred on May 14, 2022.
  • Gendron pleaded guilty to state charges in November 2022 and was sentenced to life in prison.
  • The lawsuit against Mean Arms was filed in 2023.
  • The $1.75 million settlement was announced on February 13, 2026.

The players

Mean Arms

A Georgia-based manufacturer of firearms accessories, including the MA Lock device at the center of this case.

Payton Gendron

The 18-year-old self-professed white supremacist who carried out the 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket, killing 10 people.

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.

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 commented on the settlement and the state's ongoing efforts to help the Buffalo community heal and 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 (wondradio.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 (wondradio.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 (wondradio.com)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

This settlement represents an important step in holding accountable the companies and individuals who enable access to deadly weapons, while also highlighting the ongoing efforts to enforce strict gun laws and support communities impacted by mass shootings.