ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Mayor Malik Evans and Rochester Police Chief David Smith addressed the recent surge in violence at a press conference held on Jefferson Avenue on Saturday afternoon. The officials outlined the steps being taken to combat the series of shootings that resulted in three injuries and the tragic death of a 15-year-old boy on Friday.
Mayor Evans highlighted the implementation of an emergency order to curtail further violence along Jefferson Avenue. “We have had multiple shootings in the streets that are off Jefferson Avenue. One of the things I said is that we are going to use our emergency order, and we are doing that. We are doing that today and doing that for the near future,” said Mayor Evans.
The string of shootings began on Friday after 1 p.m., when a man in his 30s was shot while sitting in a car. Later in the day, a 17-year-old boy was shot near Nellis Park, followed by a 37-year-old woman who was shot near Champlain Street. In the evening, two teenagers aged 15 and 16 were also shot near Jefferson, with the 15-year-old tragically losing his life.
Mayor Evans reiterated the city’s zero-tolerance policy towards such acts of violence. “We aren’t going to tolerate it. We are going to use our emergency order to deal with the streets, particularly Barlett, Flint, all these streets,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Police Chief David Smith stated that officers are ramping up patrols during the afternoon and evening hours in an effort to quell the issue. He declined to confirm if the shootings on Jefferson Avenue were directly connected.
Mayor Evans shared that the city is employing various programs, activities, and mentoring initiatives through community-based organizations to address the underlying causes of violence. However, he expressed frustration that without action from the state legislature to address the catch-and-release cycle for offenders, the city’s efforts are limited.
“Until the state legislature does something about the catch and release of these offenders, my hands are tied,” Mayor Evans emphasized. He added that while Rochester faces similar challenges as cities like Buffalo and New York City, the recurrence of offenders charged with criminal possession of a weapon is unique to Rochester.
As the community grapples with the recent surge in violence, city officials are working diligently to implement measures aimed at preventing further harm on Jefferson Avenue and throughout Rochester.