ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester police say they’re working on a plan to address recent troubles at a plaza where a man was shot and a woman was assaulted Sunday. Police say trying to keep up with large groups of people who race from spot to spot can be difficult. 

“It is frustrating,” said Captain Nathan Cornell. “And we don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

What You Need To Know

  • Rochester police say they’re working on a plan to address recent troubles at West Ridge Plaza, where a man was shot and a woman was assaulted Sunday

  • Many neighbors and business owners are fed up

  • Captain Nathan Cornell says police are working with the plaza owner on ways to stop the large gatherings, but didn’t offer specifics

Cornell is commander of the RPD Lake Section. Officers from there responded to West Ridge Plaza Sunday night to break up a large gathering of people in cars and on motorcycles. Neighbors complained about drinking and loud music in the privately-owned lot. Later, a man was shot several times, and a woman who tried to confront the group had gasoline and motor oil poured over her.

Large groups of people racing, drinking, smoking, and blasting loud music have become a regular occurrence on Sunday nights at the plaza off West Ridge Road, and at several other locations in the city. 

Many neighbors and business owners are fed up.

“The cops come, they leave, they come back and they’ll be back again next week,” said Mike McBride, a Neighborhood Watch member who spoke to Spectrum News the day after the incidents. “We could have more violence next week because we're not dealing with a problem at all. We're playing games.”

Matt Reis, owner of Bathtub Billy’s Bar and Grill, said he was looking at another location for his business because of the ongoing issues. The bar has been located in the plaza for more than three decades.

“We take it very seriously,” said Cornell of the plaza’s issues and ensuing complaints. “We want the public, the residents that live in these areas, the businesses, we want them to be assured that we are working on this.”

Cornell says police are working with the plaza owner on ways to stop the large gatherings, but didn’t offer specifics. Police response, he says, does depend on available resources. Cornell noted police officers who responded to West Ridge Plaza also had other calls to handle. Adding to the frustration, when police chase the groups from one spot, they will race to another and then often return.

“We can't be everywhere at once,” he said. “And we may think we know where they are, and get there, and they're already gone to the next place. It can become like a whack-a-mole.”