Rochester Police investigating 5 separate shootings, including 2 murders over the weekend

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — The Rochester Police are investigating five separate shootings, including two homicides over the weekend.

The first shooting happened Saturday afternoon on the city’s northwest side. Officers responded around 4:20 p.m. to the area of Emerson and Santee Streets for the report of shots fired. When officers arrived they found evidence that gunshots had been fired. Shortly after officers were notified that a 17-year-old boy arrived at Rochester General Hospital via private vehicle with at least one gunshot wound to his lower body. The teen is expected to survive.

Later Saturday night, a second shooting happened on the city’s north side. Officers responded around 10:15 pm to the report of a male down at the corner of Flower City Park and Primrose Street. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound to his upper body. Police say despite lifesaving efforts, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have identified the man as Keegan Whitley, 42, of Rochester. Investigators say they believe he was chased down Flower City Park by an unknown suspect when he was shot.

The third shooting happened just after midnight on the city’s northeast side. Officers responded to the 100 block of Oneida Street for the report of a person shot. Upon arrival, officers found a 17-year-old boy who was shot at least once in the lower body. The teen was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital and is expected to survive. In addition, a 15-year-old boy sustained a minor injury during the incident and was taken to Rochester General Hospital for treatment. Police say the 15-year-old was not shot and a house party was taking place when the shooting occurred.

An hour later, officers responded to the 100 block of Lincoln Street for the report of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers found a 22-year-old man that was shot at least once in his lower body. The man was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital and is expected to survive.

Lastly, officers responded around 2 a.m. Sunday to the parking lot at 250 Monroe Avenue for the report of a person shot. When officers arrived, they found a man that was shot in his upper body. The man was rushed to URMC where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Police positively identified the man as Earnest Wood, 31, of Rochester. Police say there were at least 20-30 people in the parking lot due to the bar closing when the shooting occurred, but everybody took off when police arrived on scene.

All five shootings remain under investigation and there are no suspects in custody at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call 911.

Wanda Ridgeway is Executive Director of Rise Up Rochester, a group of volunteers who work to combat violence and provide support to crime victims and their families. She spoke with News10NBC about the latest violence in the city.

She said, "Talk to kids about conflict resolution to let them know you have to learn to talk to someone if you’re dealing with anger, pain and hurt, because like I tell people all the time, ‘Hurt people hurt people, and you’re either going to end up going to jail or the cemetery.’"