Former police officer Aaron Salter Jr. gave his life saving others from Buffalo mass shooter

Former Buffalo police officer Aaron Salter Jr. died a hero on Saturday when he was killed during the mass shooting in an exchange of gunfire at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York.

Salter, 55, took a job as a security guard at Tops Friendly Markets after retiring from the Buffalo Police Department in 2018. Salter joined the police force shortly after high school and began his service with the Buffalo Police Department in the late 1980's, according to The Buffalo News.

"Today is a shock," his son Aaron Salter III told the media. "I'm pretty sure he saved some lives today. He's a hero."

In what investigators believe to be a "racially motivated" attack, suspect Payton Gendron, an 18-year-old white male from Conklin, New York, is accused of killing 10 after opening fire at Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue, which is situated in a predominantly black neighborhood.

Salter attempted to neutralize the suspect and struck Gendron with at least one bullet. Because of the suspect's placated body armor and higher caliber firearm, Gendron was able to return fire which ultimately took the life of Salter.

"An officer takes an oath," Buffalo police officer Juan Phillips, Salter's friend and former colleague said. "It just doesn't stop when you are retired. It doesn't stop at the end of an eight-hour tour."

Retired BPD Lt. Steven Malkowski, who previously served as Salter's supervisor, said Salter's heroic efforts did not surprise him.

"It's not surprising to me, at all, that he did what he did yesterday," Malkowski said. "Even though you leave the job, the job doesn't leave you. I know he was thinking about, something was going wrong here. People's lives were in danger, and he was probably the only person who was in there that could help and save people."

Buffalo Police Chief Joseph Gramaglia hailed Salter a hero Saturday and called him a "beloved security guard" by all who knew him at the store, The Buffalo News reported.

Although Salter was retired from the police force at the time he was killed, Malkowski wants to see him be retroactively reinstated as a police officer for one day, so the fallen hero can receive the recognition he deserves and honored with a formal line-of-duty death funeral.

Buffalo Common Council Member David Rivera, a retired 25-year veteran of the Buffalo Police Department, said if it's legally allowable, Salter should be put to rest with the highest honor.

"He should have all the honors," Rivera told The Buffalo News. "If it's allowed and the council is willing, I can't imagine there's any circumstances where we wouldn't do it."

Salter has been described as an outgoing and friendly family man who had a zest for science. For many years, Salter worked in the Traffic Control Division, handling events at KeyBank Center and the Bisons stadium, as well as special events like races and charity walks, according to The Buffalo News.

Salter leaves behind his wife and three children.