Katherine Kat Massey, 72, was killed on May 14, 2022, during the mass shooting at a Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo, New York. Her brother had dropped her off that afternoon for a routine grocery run; she kept a shopping list and relied on family rides. Witnesses saw police, paramedics, and a crime scene unfold in the parking lot as the shooter opened fire in and around the store. Ten people died and three were wounded in the attack. Massey’s family waited hours for confirmation before being told she had been among those killed.

Locally, Massey was known for longtime work in insurance and for organizing neighbors and civic efforts aimed at reducing gun violence and improving the community. Those who knew her described her as tender and unyielding, able to be warm and joyful while also persistent in pushing for change. The only person taken into custody at the scene was Payton Gendron of Conklin, New York. Does anyone who knew Kat or her neighborhood have memories or details to share that could help preserve her story?