Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo's Police Commissioner Erika Shields laid the blame for what turned out to be violent episode in what was one of the city's most violent nights in recent memory at a local promoter who put together an East Side "street take over."
"They came to create chaos," Shields said Monday, nearly 48 hours after a violent July 4th holiday night across parts of Buffalo.
The "street take over" centered around W. Delavan Avenue and Grider Street left 11 people shot - none fatally.
The shootings took place between 12:14 a.m. and 2:07 a.m. on July 5.
Four were wounded near 282 Stevens Avenue; another three by 723 Glenwood Avenue and one each by 630 Moselle Street, 41 Humber Avenue, E. Delavan and Norfolk Avenues and the Grider Street drive up to Erie County Medical Center.
Victims ranged between 13 years of age and 51 years of age.
During a Monday afternoon news conference, Buffalo police commissioner Erika Shields says there were concerns before the holiday weekend about a party promoter with past issues in the city. She says the promoter was holding a street takeover party on Stevens Street near East Delevan and Grider.
The police department took action to work on measures ahead of the weekend to prevent any potential violence. This included street humps being added to avoid any drag races, officers being sent into the community, and the department’s Special Investigations Unit focused on gathering intelligence.
"I am beyond disgusted with the promoter," Shields said.
Shields says staffing was 150% of what it had been the previous year on the Fourth of July.
According to Shields, the night began with a SWAT call at a vacant grain elevator on Ohio Street, where multiple people were on top of the grain elevator, and one of them was firing a gun.
With the street takeover near Delevan and Grider, Shields says it started as a manageable crowd, but grew rapidly. The crowd then became combative and multiple people had guns, resulting in the department becoming overwhelmed.
"The promoter created a total 'hell' situation," added Deputy Commissioner Craig Macy.
There were also several large fights on Chippewa Street throughout the night, according to Shields.
In another instance, a Buffalo police officer was called to break up a fight in his own South Buffalo neighborhood. When he left the scene, something was then thrown through his window, or a gunshot shattered the window where his wife and kids were inside.
“This cannot be who Buffalo is,” Shields said.
