NY man who opened fire in Buffalo-area retail store pleads guilty to attempted murder, sentenced to 10 years
New York police called it a miracle that more people were not injured or killed
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
A New York man who opened fire with a high-powered rifle at a Buffalo-area retail store in 2017, wounding one person, pleaded guilty to an attempted murder charge Thursday and agreed to serve a 10-year prison sentence.
Travis Green, 34, of Buffalo, took the plea deal during a hearing in Erie County Court, District Attorney John Flynn said. Sentencing was set for July 6.
Police called it a miracle that more people were not injured or killed when Green sprayed more than 20 bullets at the front of the Dollar General store in Cheektowaga from the parking lot. Several customers and employees were inside at the time. A 53-year-old man outside the store was wounded in the shoulder but survived.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
BUFFALO’S DIFFICULT YEAR DOESN’T HOLD CITY DOWN: 'UNIQUE SPIRIT INGRAINED IN THE PEOPLE HERE'
Green had earlier gone inside the store on Nov. 14, 2017, to request a job application and became irate, authorities said. He left the store, got a pump-action rifle from his car and started shooting.
The boarded-up doors of this Dollar General store in Cheektowaga, New York, are shown on Nov. 15, 2017, after being shattered by Travis Green's bullets the day before. (AP Photo/Carolyn Thompson, File)
A nearby store owner who saw the shooting jumped into his car, drove to the Dollar General and struck Green, who then tried to run away but was caught by police.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
BUFFALO POLICE INVESTIGATE LOOTING AFTER WINTER STORM FREEZES NORTHWEST NEW YORK
Police said they later found a second rifle in Green's car and more than 850 rounds of ammunition.
After the shooting, Green’s mother said stress appeared to be a factor because he had recently broken up with his wife and lost his job. Green had been ruled incompetent to stand trial but was later ruled competent as he received treatment.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Green's lawyer, Paul Dell, said Thursday that it has been difficult for his client to come to terms with what he did.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"He feels very fortunate that no one was seriously injured," Dell said. "This was not a hate crime nor was it political in any way, it was the worst day of his life."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
The Buffalo News reported Dell said Green would only have about three more years in prison to serve with a 10-year sentence because he has been imprisoned since the shooting and will get time off his sentence for good behavior.