ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Police are expected to address the spike in violence and the latest homicides in the city of Rochester. The Rochester Police Department will hold a news conference at the Public Safety Building at 2 p.m. Friday.
Meanwhile, local leaders are discussing what they believe needs to be done to stop the violence from happening.
RPD Capt. Frank Umbrino on Thursday talked about how he feels about the ongoing issue.
"I mean, it's worse than a war zone out here lately," said Umbrino. "We want the community to stand up, stand beside us. The community has to get fed up with this."
Mayor-Elect Malik Evans released a statement on Thursday just after Rochester surpassed its record for the most homicides in one year since the police department started keeping records in 1970.
Evans says he is most alarmed by the number of teenagers who have been shot. There have been 60 younger than 18 in 2021. He says the city is in a state of emergency and is pulling together all who can help him tackle the violence as he transitions into office.
No statement was made by current Mayor Lovely Warren regarding the three fatal shootings that took place on Thursday.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello says he is working with Evans on ideas to tackle the issue.
"It has got to be more investment and prevention to give opportunities to young people so they don't fall into a life of crime and violence," said Bello. "We also have to give support and resources to law enforcement so they can get people off the streets who are causing this violence."
According to AmericanViolence.org, data from January to September 2021 shows Rochester currently has the second greatest number of people shot per 100,000 residents.