Gun Parts Maker Settles Lawsuit Over 2022 Buffalo Shooting

Mean Arms to pay $1.75 million and stop selling device used to convert rifle in 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 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

This settlement holds a gun parts manufacturer accountable for its role in enabling the deadly Buffalo shooting, which sparked national outrage and renewed calls for stricter gun laws. It also demonstrates how civil lawsuits can be an important tool in addressing the gun violence crisis, even when criminal prosecutions fall short.

The details

According to the lawsuit, the shooter, Payton Gendron, followed Mean Arms' instructions to remove a device called an MA Lock that was sold attached to the Bushmaster XM-15 rifle he used in the attack. Removing the lock allowed Gendron to attach a 30-round magazine, converting the gun into an illegal assault weapon that he then used to kill 10 people and injure 3 others. As part of the settlement, Mean Arms agreed to permanently stop selling the MA Lock in New York and remove any claims that the device is legal in the state.

  • On May 14, 2022, the shooting occurred at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York.
  • In November 2022, Gendron pleaded guilty to state charges and was sentenced to life in prison.
  • Gendron is scheduled to face a federal trial this 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 in the Buffalo shooting.

Payton Gendron

The 18-year-old self-professed white supremacist who carried out the racially motivated mass shooting at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, killing 10 Black 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 expressed gratitude for the settlement and commitment to helping the Buffalo community heal.

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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 (ksro.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 (ksro.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 (ksro.com)

What’s next

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

The takeaway

This settlement demonstrates how civil lawsuits can hold gun manufacturers and accessories companies accountable for their role in enabling deadly mass shootings, even when criminal prosecutions fall short. It also highlights the ongoing efforts to address gun violence and ensure compliance with strict gun laws in New York.