The White House says that President Joe Biden will formally call on Congress to "take action" in keeping "weapons of war" off of streets and "keep guns out of the hands of criminals and people who have serious mental illness."

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre made the comments aboard Air Force One to the press as the president traveled to Buffalo, New York on Tuesday to visit the area of a mass shooting there at a supermarket called Tops Market.

As the Associated Press reported, the shooter, Payton Gendron, was described as a quiet, socially awkward student. He once reportedly threatened a murder-suicide while at school and was put under a mental evaluation, then released later the next day when investigators are said to have stopped looking into the matter as serious.

Gendron is accused of shooting and killing 10 people at the Buffalo supermarket. Most of the victims were said to be in their 50s or older. Investigators described the attack as  “racially motivated violent extremism.”

“It is my sincere hope that this individual, this white supremacist who just perpetrated a hate crime on an innocent community, will spend the rest of his days behind bars. And heaven help him in the next world as well,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Gendron shot 11 Black people and two white people before he surrendered to police.

Karine Jean-Pierre made history Wednesday becoming the first openly gay woman and the first Black woman in 30 years to deliver a White House press briefing.

Jean-Pierre is the White House principal deputy press secretary. She's briefed reporters aboard Air Force One before, but Wednesday was the first time she did a televised briefing. 

A reporter asked Jean-Pierre what the moment meant for her and she said it was an honor. 

"I appreciate the historic nature, I really do," Jean-Pierre said. "But I believe that, you know, being behind this podium, being in this room, being in this building is not about one person. It's about, you know, what we do on behalf of the American people. Clearly, the president believes in representation matters, and I appreciate him giving me this opportunity. And it's another reason why I think we are so proud that this is the most diverse administration in history."

Judy Smith, who served as deputy press secretary to President George H.W. Bush in 1991, was the first Black woman in the role.

Jean-Pierre is seen as a potential successor to current White House press secretary Jen Psaki, and Wednesday’s appearance was seen as an audition of sorts for the job.

Johannah Grenaway contributed to this report