Rochester mass shooting: Two dead and 14 injured after shots fired at New York backyard party

Police said as many as 100 people attended the gathering
April Roach @aprilroach2819 September 2020

Two people have died and 14 others were injured following a shooting at a backyard party in New York, police said.

Witnesses reported hearing gunfire in the early hours of Saturday morning in Rochester.

Interim Police Chief Mark Simmons told reporters a man and woman had died, both between the ages of 18 and 22.

As many as 100 people were at the gathering when the shooting started just before 12.30am, said Mr Simmons.

Police respond to the shooting in Rochester 
AP

He added that it was too early to say whether more than one person was shooting or who the intended targets may have been.

The wounded were taken to two different hospitals and none of them are believed have life-threatening injuries, said police.

"This is truly a tragedy of epic proportions," Mr Simmons said near scene of the shooting, which appeared to stretch at least a block.

He added: "I mean 16 victims is unheard of, and for our community, who's right now going through so much, to have to be dealt with this tragedy, needlessly, for people who decide to act in a violent manner is unfortunate and shameful, and we're going to do everything that we can as a department to bring those people involved to justice."

Witnesses told Wham the bullets sounded "like the Vietnam War."

A reporter at the scene said he could hear family members "crying and consoling each other". He added: "It’s really painful to hear."

Lovely Warren, Mayor of Rochester, called for people to remain calm and exercise "deep restraint" as police carry out their investigation.

"Our Pathways to Peace Team is on the ground and working with the victims and their families," said Mayor Warren.

"This tragic act of violence has impacted many people's lives and families.

"I'm begging everyone to remain calm and exercise deep restraint as RPD investigates what happened here and seeks those responsible.

"Please keep our city in your continual prayers."

Mr Simmons expressed frustration that someone had held a large, late-night party in defiance of a state ban on large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is yet another tragedy where individuals are having these illegal, unsanctioned house parties taking place in these properties, which — number one — is not safe because of Covid, because of the conditions," he said.

"And then you add in alcohol and violence and it just becomes a recipe for disaster."

Pastor Marlowe Washington told WROC-TV: "Whoever was the host of this party needs to be held accountable for this."

The shooting comes after the city’s police department was rocked by the suffocation death of Daniel Prude.

Video taken in March and made public by Mr Prude’s family on September 4 shows him handcuffed and naked with a spit hood over his head as an officer pushes his face against the street while another officer presses a knee to his back.

The officers held him down for about two minutes until he stopped breathing. He was taken off life support a week later.

On Monday, Mayor Warren sacked police chief La’Ron Singletary, who she said initially misled her about the circumstances of Mr Prude’s death.

Additional reporting by Associated Press.

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