UB graduate killed hours after ceremony

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A graduation celebration turned tragic early Sunday morning.

The family of a 23-year-old murder victim is spending Mother's Day making funeral plans.

Buffalo Police say it happened in the University district around 3:15 a.m. Sunday.

"At this point is almost appears to be senseless more than anything," said Buffalo Police Commissioner McCarthy Gipson.

Police say 23-year-old Javon Jackson was shot in the back as he was crossing Main Street to go home.

"From that side to this side and struck by bullets from a lone gunman who was in the company of 3 black males," said Detective Dennis Richards of the Buffalo Police Department.

City officials held a press conference Sunday afternoon in the hopes of gathering any information about Sunday mornings murder.

Gipson said, "There was no fight or anything, maybe some words exchanged or something."

Police commissioner McCarthy Gipson says that Main street was busy overnight, as UB students were out celebrating graduation weekend.

Javon Jackson was also celebrating, as he just graduated from UB's engineering school on Saturday, his family was in town as well.

Mayor Byron Brown spoke with Javon Jackson's father.

"There's a family making funeral arrangements, for a 23 year old college graduate, on Mother's Day," said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

Police say Jackon was with friends, who are helping in the investigation, but they're still hoping other witnesses will come forward.

Several cameras were installed along Main Street over the past few years and authorities have been working hard at curbing the crime in the area.

They're looking to see if this incident was caught on camera.

But for now, they're relying on the public for help in this Mother's Day tragedy.