Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown urged the public to provide information that will help police investigating a double shooting on Grape Street, in front of the same location where a woman and her grandson were fatally gunned down earlier this month.
Two men in their 20s, whose names were not released as of Thursday afternoon, were recovering from gunshot wounds suffered Thursday evening. Mayor Brown said this week's shootings were gang-related and the victims were targeted.
He and police leaders are saying little more.
"They were targeted last night. I don't want to speak to what occurred on July 2. Everything is still a fluid investigation," said Buffalo Police Deputy Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia.
It was about 12:30 a.m. July 2 when 54-year-old Yvette Johnson and 17-month-old Kyrie Johnson were two of four people shot at the elder's Grape Street home. She and her grandson died while two others were hurt.
Crimestoppers has posted a $4,000 reward for information that leads to arrests and convictions. Mayor Brown, meanwhile, says police have made progress in their July 2 shooting probe and the public has provided useful tips. But he's renewing a call to the public to come forward with information.
"As small as they might think it is, please provide that information to the Buffalo Police," the mayor said. "You can call any information about these shootings into the Buffalo Police Tip Line at 847-2255."
Gramaglia, meanwhile, says patrols have increased in the Fruit Belt neighborhood and there will be "dedicated patrols for as long as it takes."
