ROCHESTER, N.Y. — There is an outcry in the city of Rochester over the shooting of a 3-year-old boy.
Police say Marlo Joseph, 3, was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between two groups of people Wednesday evening.
Rochester police say the boy was inside a parked car when he was struck by a bullet during the gunfire at the 700/800 blocks of North Clinton Avenue Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
“The child was in the car with an adult shielding the child, that heard the gunfire ring out … jumped in the car to shield the child," said Rochester Police Chief David Smith.
“He loves to play,” said Marlo's cousin, Geoffery Rogers. “He’s joyful. He loves to eat candy and popcorn.”
Rogers read a statement from Marlo’s mother, Dashaye Snow, who remains by her child’s bedside in the hospital.
“We want justice for Marlo,” Snow said through Rogers. “He didn’t deserve this. This is my baby. My sweetheart. My innocent little boy. The coolest little boy you could ever meet. Justice needs to be served.”
“All hell was breaking loose. There were gunshots back and forth," said Monroe County Legislator Mercedes Vazquez Simmons, who saw the incident on video. “It looked like a scene out of the wild west where people were just shooting at each other with no regard of anyone being in the city.”
Rochester police say two people were arrested in connection with the shooting.
Police say a 16-year-old suspect has been arraigned on charges of first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Investigators say he was found wearing body armor and had a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun. He is being held at the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Police say they also took Travis Lewis, 34, into custody following a chase into a house near the crime scene. Lewis tossed a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun during the chase, according to investigators.
Police say Lewis was arraigned Thursday morning in Rochester City Court on charges of first-degree assault, second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. Prior to Wednesday's shooting, officials say Lewis had been awaiting sentencing that had been delayed following a conviction in a shooting on Dove Street in January 2021. The department says Lewis also had convictions in 2007 and 2005 which led to the current charge of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
“I am at a point where I may just head over to Albany and just say, ‘we need help in Rochester, New York.’ Because it seems like it just not happening,” said Vazquez Simmons. “The governor was here recently about a week or two ago and says she’s willing to offer help. Well it should be an automatic thing, you know what I mean, I don’t know what needs to trigger for the governor to send assistance, but it needs to happen.”
For now, there is a strong police presence in the area, considered the most dangerous in the city. Through the weekend and into next week, the increase in police will continue for a limited operation.
“We’re going to do high visibility patrol for as long as we can,” said Smith. “Resources are not indefinite. Officers have lives. This is hard on them. It’s been hard on them all summer. We’re facing a manpower shortage. I have spent more on overtime than any other police chief in history.”
“The entire community is in shock over this and I think support is needed in order for this community to heal from this," said Vazquez Simmons.
“This is an emotional situation and no child who is 3 years old should have to experience this,” said Rogers. “Children love to talk and play and unfortunately he cannot at this time.”
In the meantime, there are well wishes and prayers from people throughout the community for little Marlo’s recovery.