INTERVIEW: Mayor Evans and Primetime 585 founder speak after 12-year-old was killed

Mayor Evans interview

Rochester Mayor Malik Evans joined News10NBC for an on-air interview after 12-year-old Juan Lopez was shot and killed while walking on Atkinson Street on Monday night. A 16-year-old boy has life-altering injuries after the shooting.

The mayor spoke about the need for community members to call 911 or other agencies if they have information that can help to find the shooter. He also spoke about how gang activity, drugs, and personal disputes can turn into gun violence.

Primetime 585 founder interview

Karen Iglesia, the founder of Primetime 585, also spoke to News10NBC. Primetime 585 empowers student-athletes to use sports to improve communities and fight against racism using sports. She said investing in schools in the city, including sports programs, is important for stopping gun violence.

Press conference from Mayor Evans

“Rochester must speak up” was the message that Mayor Malik Evans delivered after a 12-year-old boy was killed and a 16-year-old boy was injured in a Monday night shooting.

The mayor and Rochester Police Chief David Smith spoke at a Tuesday conference about the shooting off of Atkinson Street. There are no suspects in custody and Evans is demanding that anyone with information come forward.

Evans said that people can send an anonymous tip to 911, 311, Crime Stoppers at 423-9300, or City Hall at 428-7045. He said too many crimes have gone unsolved because people didn’t speak up.

News10NBC Investigates: What is it like to be a child in the city right now?

“Anyone that gets up and has press conferences and march, I don’t want to see any press conferences and marches. I want people to tell me who killed this kid,” Evans said. “Who was there? What did the car look like? Who were they hanging with? Where were they going? What were they buying? Who was the beef with?”

Police identified the victim as Juan Lopez, 12. Chief Smith said the 16-year-old has life-altering injuries but is expected to survive. He is in stable condition after being treated for multiple gunshot wounds.

RPD officers on Monday responded to several ShotSpotter activations around 7 p.m. on Atkinson Street and Reynolds Street. When they arrived in the area they found the boy dead on the sidewalk.

RPD also responded to a shooting two blocks over on Prospect Street, where they found the injured 16-year-old. Police said neighbors and responding officers were able to help stop the bleeding and call for an ambulance to take him to URMC.

So far this year, there have been seven murder victims under the age of 18. There have also been 49 teenaged shooting victims as well. They include toddlers aged three and four, who were shot in different incidents while sitting inside of a car.

Evans said that RPD is working to stop gun violence by getting illegal guns off the street, removing 700 this year so far, but stopping violent offenders must also involve community members providing tips on crimes.

Read more:

• Pastors amp up outreach after murder of Rochester boy, 12
• Rochester Police search for killer of ‘loving and kind’ Franklin student, 12
• Family and friends hold vigil for 12-year-old shot and killed on Monday