ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Mayor Malik Evans met News10NBC Chief Investigative Reporter Berkeley Brean on North Clinton Avenue, where most of the chaos and gunfire happened last weekend.
Eleven people were shot and two people were killed, including a 14-year-old girl. The discussion with the mayor focused on teenagers because more than 20 teens have been shot this year.
Two were killed, including one down the street on Saturday. RPD says it has arrested 96 teenagers with illegal guns this year.
Berkeley: “I wonder if you ever ask yourself where the parents or guardians of these kids are?”
Evans: “I do. I always ask what the family structure is like because that plays a major role in a lot of things that happen.”
Berkeley: “Have you ever considered trying to legislate parenting?”
Evans: “You can’t legislate parenting.”
Evans: “And you also can’t legislate your way out of what we’re seeing as it relates to indiscriminate gun fire.”
The shootings happened in the neighborhoods and streets northeast of the city core after the end of the Puerto Rican Festival. A 35-year-old woman and a 14-year-old girl were murdered. Police data shows illegal, large gatherings cause 90 percent of the mass shootings.
Berkeley: “Your crowd order, can that prevent it or does it kick in when you try to break up the crowds?”
Evans: “I think it can possibly prevent it but I think it’s another tool you can use.”
The people who live in the area thanked the mayor.
Berkeley: “Is there anything you would like the mayor to do?
“The festival. the Puerto Rican Festival,” a woman said.
“The stuff that happened afterwards, after hours,” Evans said.
Evans: “I think this is what we hear, these parallel events that happen after the festival is over. Keeping these folks up late at night and live in the neighborhood. They don’t want that.”
Berkeley: “Have you ever considered just not permitting festivals anymore?”
Evans: “No, I haven’t because that would punish the people who are doing the right thing.”
Of the 96 teens caught with illegal guns, almost half are under 18. Over the last two weekends, there has been a surge in gun violence with 15 people shot.
This year Rochester averages two shooting victims a week. Five years ago it was eight.
This year the city has had three people shot and killed. Five years ago by early August, Rochester had 36.
Rochester Mayor Evans decides not to cancel city festival after weekend violence, residents react
News10NBC reporter Erin Mahon spoke with people downtown about Mayor Evans’ decision not to end a city festival following weekend violence.
Reactions were mixed. Some people were still angry over the violence following the festival this weekend, telling Mahon they didn’t feel strongly enough to end it but wanted its duration reduced to only one day. Those who disagreed also talked about other city festivals that don’t end this way, mentioning Party in the Park and Jazz Fest.
James Montgomery agreed with the mayor’s decision not to cancel the festival. “I agree with that 100%. You don’t want to mess up somebody’s culture because you don’t want somebody else’s culture to suffer from somebody’s else’s actions,” Montgomery said.
Brinde Burns suggested shortening the festival. “I think one day — one day. Because it’s always something going on — violent or whatever and that’s not one year — that’s every year,” Burns said.
Councilmember Miguel Melendez commissioned safety committee volunteers to go out over the weekend to help keep things civil. He said they had a total of 17 volunteers and that he’s hoping to more than double that next year.
The post Rochester Mayor Evans addresses teen gun violence on North Clinton Avenue after 11 shot, two killed appeared first on WHEC.com.
