BUFFALO, N.Y. — Memorial Day weekend unofficially marks the beginning of summer, a time where gun violence tends to spike. But Buffalo is already seeing an increase in shootings this year. City, county, and community leaders believe a number of factors are to blame.

What You Need To Know

  • Shootings have increased more than 100% in Jan-April 2021 compared to Jan-April 2020 
  • Erie County DA John Flynn thinks lack of community engagement because of COVID could be a major factor
  • Community organizations say they've been doing their best to combat violence with the limited resources they have
​​​

It's been a violent first five months of the year in the Queen City. There have been 91 shootings in Buffalo from January to April this year compared to 42 shootings during the same time period in 2020 — more than a 100% increase.

"We're not even halfway done in the year,” Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said.

With Memorial Day weekend here, there is a concern the numbers could increase throughout the summer months. But as the weather warms and vaccinations continue, the DA is calling for the resumption of in-person engagement efforts in hopes of curbing the shootings.

"None of us have been able to truly get out there and engage with our community, and that lack of engagement I think is one of the reasons, if not the top reason, for why these numbers are so high," Flynn said.

But community organizations that have boots on the ground throughout the area say they've continued their efforts throughout the pandemic to combat violence despite having limited resources. 

"I'm going through my pockets to make things work,” Murray Holman, the executive director of the Stop the Violence Coalition, said. “If it was not for Pastor [James] Giles and Western New York Peacemakers, and all these individual organizations, and sometimes help from the Common Council, we're not getting the money to make it work but we're still going to do the job." 

"I contracted COVID by helping the community,” Pastor Kenneth Simmons of the Cold Spring Bible Chapel said. “I almost died from helping the community. We have Back to Basics, Stop the Violence, F.A.T.H.E.R.S., organizations who are out there every day feeding the homeless."

Community leaders believe a lack of resources in local communities could also be to blame for the surge. 

"A lack of economic development in urban communities, people of color communities.,” said Pastor Giles, the president and CEO of Back To Basics Outreach Ministries, Inc. “That has created a situation. A lack of appropriate educational resources in urban communities.”

"If we really want to stem the violence, it's about resources, just like what these guys have talked about,” Buffalo Common Councilmember Rasheed Wyatt said. “And it's about investing." 

There is a community day event at MLK Park on Saturday, May 29 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. hosted by Councilman Mitch Nowakowski's office. You can grab a bite to eat, pick up a children's bicycle helmet and chat with members of anti-violence organizations there. 

Anyone with information on a shooting or other crimes can contact the Erie County District Attorney’s Office by calling 716-858-2424. Information can also be reported anonymously by calling or texting the Buffalo Police Department confidential tip line at 716-847-2255.