Police in Rochester, New York, responded to two separate but believed to be connected shooting scenes early Sunday morning. In total, seven people were shot and one person was stabbed in the downtown area.
Authorities said the violence unfolded shortly after midnight and may have been part of one moving shooting incident involving several weapons.
Police Respond to Gunfire Downtown
According to Rochester police, officers heard multiple gunshots at around 12:30 a.m. Sunday coming from a parking lot at 275 East Avenue.
Moments later, officers heard additional shots coming from East Broad Street.
Police quickly moved into both areas as the gunfire continued.
Before the shootings, officers had received reports of large groups gathering around East Avenue, Alexander Street, Union Street, and East Broad Street.
Victims Found on East Broad Street
Near 475 East Broad Street, officers found three shooting victims and one stabbing victim.
Those victims ranged in age from 12 to 18 years old.
Police said some of the injured had serious wounds, but all victims are expected to survive.
Four More Shooting Victims Found on East Avenue
Officers also found four shooting victims on East Avenue.
Those victims ranged in age from 15 to 40 years old.
Police said all victims from both scenes are expected to survive.
Suspects Stopped in Two Vehicles
During the immediate response, officers stopped two vehicles connected to the investigation.
One vehicle was stopped on East Avenue with help from a drone.
Another vehicle was stopped on East Broad Street.
Police said weapons were recovered from both vehicles.
Loaded Guns Found During East Avenue Stop
At the East Avenue traffic stop, officers recovered two loaded handguns from a Toyota.
Police said one gun was found in the vehicle’s trunk, while another was found on the waistband of 28-year-old Jadell Williams.
Williams and 29-year-old Larry Dillon are being charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
A flatbed truck later towed the black car away around 5 a.m.
Ghost Gun Found on East Broad Street
At the East Broad Street scene, police recovered a loaded ghost gun from a Kia.
The weapon reportedly had an extended magazine.
A 17-year-old male is also being charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
More Than 50 Shots Fired
Police said more than 50 gunshots were fired from multiple weapons across the two connected incidents.
Investigators believe the violence may have been one larger moving shooting event involving more than one firearm.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage from the area.
Videos from the scene also captured fireworks still going off nearby, according to police.
Multiple Agencies Assisted
Several law enforcement agencies were involved in the response, including:
- Rochester Police Department
- New York State Police
- Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies
- Greece police
The large response came as officers worked to control crowds, treat victims, locate suspects, and secure evidence.
Victims and Injuries
Police said three victims initially had life-threatening injuries.
Officers used potentially life-saving tourniquets on some victims. Rochester Police Captain Greg Bello said officers were already in the Bar District near the scenes, allowing them to respond quickly.
Police believe most of the shooting victims appear to have been unintended targets.
The reported victims and injuries include:
| Victim | Injury |
|---|---|
| 40-year-old male | Shot in the lower body |
| 19-year-old female | Shot in the upper body; initially life-threatening, now stable |
| 18-year-old male | Shot in the lower body; tourniquet applied |
| 18-year-old male | Shot in the upper body |
| 15-year-old male | Shot in the lower body; tourniquet applied |
| 15-year-old female | Shot in both upper and lower body |
| 12-year-old male | Shot in the lower body |
| 16-year-old female | Stabbed in the upper body |
Police Raise Concern About Teen Groups
Captain Bello said one major concern for police is the presence of roaming groups of teenagers causing disorder across the city.
He said the fact that a 12-year-old was shot shows how serious the situation has become.
Bello also praised officers for quickly applying tourniquets during the chaos, saying their actions may have saved lives.
Mayor Malik Evans Responds
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said the violence happened after fireworks celebrations had ended, when large groups remained in downtown areas.
He said eight people ended up in emergency rooms and thanked God no one was killed.
Evans said the Rochester Police Department had staffing and technology ready to help disperse crowds and quickly identify potential suspects.
He added that the city will continue working with law enforcement and the community to focus on the small number of individuals responsible for the violence.
Evans also said the incident is why he continues to maintain a gun violence state of emergency in Rochester.
District Attorney Condemns Violence
Monroe County District Attorney Brian Green said the community experienced multiple acts of gun violence and a stabbing overnight.
He noted that one person was also shot at a block party on Texas Street, while seven people were shot and one person was stabbed downtown after the fireworks.
Green said an assistant district attorney from the office’s Non-Fatal Shooting Bureau responded to both scenes and is working with Rochester police as investigations continue.
He called the violence unacceptable and said his office will work to hold offenders fully accountable.
Neighbor Calls for More Youth Activities
Nearby resident Michael Warren Jr. said the community needs stronger efforts to stop the violence.
He said young people need more activities and positive outlets so incidents like this do not happen.
Warren described the situation as a result of unguided and misguided energy among youth.
Rochester police are investigating two linked downtown shooting scenes that left seven people shot and one person stabbed early Sunday morning. The victims ranged in age from 12 to 40, and all are expected to survive. Police recovered multiple loaded weapons, including a ghost gun, and charged three suspects with criminal possession of a weapon.
Officials said more than 50 shots were fired in what may have been one moving shooting incident involving multiple weapons. As police review surveillance footage and continue the investigation, city leaders are again calling for stronger action against illegal guns, youth violence, and public safety threats in Rochester.