The city of Rochester is reeling following a mass shooting Wednesday night that left three people dead and four wounded.
The drive-by shooting happened at 11:20 p.m. outside a Boys & Girls Club on Genesee Street. Police say several shots were fired by one of more occupants of a vehicle into a crowd leaving a basketball tournament.
All of the victims are male, city residents between the ages of 20 and 29. The four wounded people suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Police Chief Michael Ciminelli says officers responded within two minutes of the first 911 call. The department immediately began what he called an "intensive investigation." Ciminelli says additional resources have been deployed to find the person or persons responsible. Until that happens, he is urging no one attempt to retaliate.
"We understand that emotions run high at a time like this," Ciminelli said in a news briefing Thursday afternoon. "But it is critical that no one takes the law into their own hands."
Ciminelli says no further details are being released at this time.
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren says she attended a peace rally earlier in the day with the group Pathways to Peace. Two of the victims were in that program.
"Young men who were trying to turn their lives around. Young men who had promise and who we believed we could help and we could save from this culture of violence," Warren said.
Warren said she is angry as the city's mayor and "outraged and devastated" as a mother.
Buffalo mayor Byron Brown says he was in touch with Warren early this morning. He says he offered any support that may be needed.
"It is not easy to find the right words at a time like this, but Mayor Warren and I have worked together on a number of things. We know each other well and I just wanted her to know my thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Rochester," Brown told WBFO Thursday.
A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and successful prosecution. Anyone with information or video is asked to contact Rochester Police.
