ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Friends and family of those killed and hurt in Saturday morning's mass shooting returned to the scene Sunday to pay their respects and call on anyone who knows something about the deadly shooting to come forward.
The aunt of one of the victims says lessons must be learned.
"The devil is busy...the devil is busy," said Janice Duval, aunt of Jarvis Alexander.
The scene of the shooting is now adorned with candles, balloons, and hand-written messages.
"It makes no sense at all," Duval said.
With the police tape now removed, that's all that is left.
It's a difficult reminder of what happened here early Saturday morning.
"Jarvis was an outgoing, energized man who was looking forward to going to college," said Duval.
Jarvis Alexander and Jaquayla Young were just two of more than 100 people who attended a gathering in Rochester's Martketview Heights neighborhood. Police say all were innocent bystanders in a gunfight at a party meant to celebrate a transition from high school to college.
"I just don't understand how something so beautiful could turn into such a tragedy."
Janice Duval says her nephew was a track star at UPrep High School in Rochester. She says Jarvis was one of five boys and an inspiration to his family. His grief-stricken parents and siblings still trying to get their heads around what happened.
"Put the guns down and start hugging people. Tell them how much you love them."
A makeshift memorial continued to grow throughout the day as friends and family returned to the scene to pay their respects to Jarvis. With potentially hundreds of people at this party, Jarvis' aunt says she's confident there's someone out there who knows something.
She's calling on that person to come forward.
"I think the cops are doing the best investigation they can, and we're just going to have to be patient and wait for answers," Duval said. "Somebody will come forward; I believe that with all my heart."
And while the party may have been well-intended, Janice says it got out of control and, in the middle of a pandemic, she hopes it will serve as a powerful lesson.
"They got to learn that we got to limit our gatherings. We can't do this anymore, because some ignorant person is going to come and do something violent. That's what's going on in this town."
While she waits and prays for justice, Janice has a simple message for those responsible for so much heartache.
"I want them to know that they made a mistake. That taking lives is not the way to answer any questions."
A GoFundMe account has been set up in Jarvis Alexander's name to help the family pay for memorial expenses.