Gun accessory maker to pay $1.75M to Buffalo shooting victims

The company will also stop selling the device in New York after a lawsuit by the state attorney general.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The maker of a gun accessory tied to a racist shooting that killed 10 Black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York will pay $1.75 million to survivors and victims' families. The company, Mean Arms, has also agreed to stop selling the device in New York state as part of a settlement with state Attorney General Letitia James.

Why it matters

The 2022 attack at Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo was a devastating tragedy that highlighted the need for greater accountability around gun violence and access to dangerous firearms and accessories. This settlement represents an important step in providing some measure of justice and compensation for the victims and their families.

The details

Mean Arms, a Georgia-based company, manufactured a device that allowed the gunman, Payton Gendron, to modify his rifle to hold high-capacity magazines, which were used in the attack. As part of the settlement, Mean Arms will pay $1.75 million to the survivors and victims' families, and will stop selling the device in New York. The plaintiffs also reached separate agreements with Gendron's family and a gun seller, Vintage Firearms LLC.

  • The attack at Tops Friendly Market occurred in 2022.
  • The settlement was announced on February 12, 2026.

The players

Mean Arms

A Georgia-based company that manufactured a gun accessory used in the Buffalo supermarket shooting.

Letitia James

The New York State Attorney General who filed the lawsuit against Mean Arms.

Payton Gendron

The gunman who carried out the racist attack at the Tops Friendly Market in Buffalo, New York in 2022.

Vintage Firearms LLC

A gun seller that reached a separate agreement with the plaintiffs.

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What they’re saying

“We're hopeful that this settlement will provide some measure of comfort and accountability to the victims' families and the Buffalo community.”

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

What’s next

The settlement agreements will be finalized in the coming weeks, providing closure for the victims' families and survivors.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing need for stricter regulations and accountability around the sale and distribution of firearms and accessories, especially in the wake of devastating mass shootings. The settlement represents an important step in providing some measure of justice for the victims and their families.