Retired federal agent may have had prior knowledge of Tops shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Law enforcement agencies in Buffalo are investigating whether a former federal agent knew in advance an 18-year-old white supremacist was going to attack the Tops on Jefferson Avenue.

Law enforcement sources with direct knowledge of the investigation said the former federal agent was among a small group of people to have regular interactions online with the gunman.

About 30 minutes before he opened fire in the Tops parking lot, the shooter posted a racist diatribe and invitations to watch the massacre live on the social media site, discord.

The former federal agent’s relationship with the gunman is part of the ongoing investigation.