ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren is asking for prayers for people in the neighborhood and for those affected by the Saturday morning mass shooting on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The mayor spent time Saturday morning walking through the area and talking with family and people who live in the neighboring homes - many of whom woke up to the sound of gunfire.

The shooting took place around 12:25 a.m. Saturday during what police say was a large backyard party. Two people died and 14 others were injured.

"It's just a tragic situation here. I had a chance to talk to the young lady who invited a couple friends over, who invited a couple friends over, who invited a couple friends over,” Warren said regarding the gathering. “And it just got out of control. She's just traumatized. And I have a lot of kids that are traumatized."

An emotional Warren urged people in the community to avoid public gatherings, and says the 11 p.m. curfew remains in effect in the city.

The mayor said the city’s Pathway to Peace Team is on the ground and working with affected families. Counselors are also available at the City R-Centers to help those grieving and dealing with trauma.

“As we strive to make our city better, all of our efforts begin with a love and appreciation for human life and the knowledge that every man, woman, and child has a right to reach their full potential,” Warren said. “We cannot and will not tolerate this level of depravity and wanton disregard for human life. Please keep our city and citizens in your continual prayers.”

New York Senator Chuck Schumer released the following statement regarding the shooting:

 

“I am devastated by the heartbreaking news of a mass shooting in Rochester last night, and I send my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and my well wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured. The senseless devastation of more lives lost, families destroyed, and communities forever changed by gun violence is yet another painful reminder that we must immediately pass common sense gun safety laws, like universal background checks and more, to rein in absurdly easy access to guns that plagues our neighborhoods from coast to coast.”

 

Rochester City Councilman Willie Lightfoot, who is also chairman of the public safety committee, says it's a tough time for our city.

He expressed his frustration at the scene of this morning’s mass shooting.

 

"When people see something they're going to have to say something. If the community hear if the neighbors would have called in then police would have came and they would have shut it down based on the curfew. So I think that the community has to take part in all of this. If you see something you have to say something so that you can prevent something like this from happening. It's not about us just responding to homicides. We don't want to respond to homicides. We'd like to have a community where we prevent homicides and shootings from happening within our community and that's going to take our entire community to step up and when they see something they need to say something."