BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Hours after a three-year-old boy was shot on Donovan Drive in Buffalo, Mayor Byron Brown and community leaders marched to call for an end to the gun violence that continues to spike in the city.
"To the illegal gun owners, to the drug dealers: Enough is enough," Mayor Byron Brown said in an afternoon rally on the street where the boy was shot. "The community is not going to accept it."
There were 21 victims in 13 shooting incidents during the Fourth of July victim. Among the victims was the boy who was critical wounded and is currently at the hospital. An 8-year-old child was also shot at a park.
[shortcode-inline-related expand="1" link="/wben/news/this-level-of-violence-cannot-continue" headline=""This level of violence cannot continue…"" image="/media-library/image.jpg?id=63597405"]Brown said there will be an increase in patrols throughout the city, specifically in neighborhoods that have been affected by gun violence.
"We are going to make sure this community is safe," Brown said. "Enough is enough of this senseless violence. I would say to the community, please work with the police. If you know something, say something. If you know who was out here shooting and injured a precious little baby, call 847-2255. We need all of those tips to come in and we need to take those illegal guns out of the hands of people that don't care anything about this community. They're targeting each other and shooting at each other but they don't care about the women, children, and families of this community. Enough is enough."
Community leaders were on hand for the march throughout the neighborhood. Among them was mayoral candidate India Walton who declined to comment other than to say she is in mourning with the community and wanted to show her support.
"We cannot stand for this," Pastor Tim Newkirk of GYC Ministries said. "Whenever there's a toddler involved...and innocent people involved celebrating a holiday and enjoying the festivities of life. When someone comes through doing a mass shooting such as this caliber, we have to put our boots on the ground."
