Mayor and Rochester Police chief address shootings on Jefferson Avenue

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Mayor Malik Evans and Rochester Police Chief David Smith held a press conference on Jefferson Avenue on Saturday afternoon to address the series of violence in the streets.

They explained what is being done to stop this streak of shootings that injured three and took the life of a 15-year-old boy on Friday.

“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,” Mayor Evans said.

This is to prevent more shootings along Jefferson Avenue.

The first shooting was just after 1 p.m. on Friday. A man in his 30’s was shot while sitting in a car. Hours later, a 17-year-old boy was shot near Nellis Park. Then a 37-year-old woman was shot near Champlain Street. Later Friday night, a 15 and 16-year-old were both shot near Jefferson. The 15-year-old died.

“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,” Mayor Evans said.

Stepping up patrols on the street through the afternoon and evening hours on Saturday, Police Chief David Smith said his officers are working around the clock to stop the problem. But, he stopped short of saying whether Friday’s shootings on Jefferson were directly connected.

Mayor Evans went on to say the city is doing everything they can through programs, activities, and mentoring through community based organizations to help the problem.

However, Mayor Evans said until the state legislature does something about the catch and release of these offenders, his hands are tied.

You look at Buffalo, you look at New York City, they have the same challenges we have. But, I’ll tell you this issue we have right here is unique to Rochester. In terms of someone being charged with criminal possession of a weapon and being charged two, three, four times, and then coming out and repeating it over and over again,” Mayor Evans said.