Arrest of alleged shooter brings relief

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - News of Wednesday's surrender at Channel 4 comes as a huge relief to a community that's been on edge ever since the mass shootings.

Since the shootings, people who spend time down here have told News 4 they just want this area to get back to normal. They hope this arrest is one step in that direction.

Karen Gray said, "I'm very glad they got him off the streets."

Even when the main suspect was still on the loose, Gray and her family did not stop coming downtown. They now feel a sense of relief knowing that he turned himself in.

"Somebody would have gotten him so good thing. One less violent incident on our streets," said Gray.

Despite what some people may think, Buffalo does not have a bad reputation everywhere. Pramod Arya is here on a business trip from India. Wednesday was his first day at work. He was shocked when we told him about the shootings at City Grill.

Arya said, "Because all the things I've been hearing about Buffalo in India is that it's a really nice place and anybody here can get along with the people."

Pastor Darius Pridgen says the steps to healing and moving forward are already in progress.

"People are coming together in the city of Buffalo and that is a great impact. You know we've never had grief counseling for instance at funerals. Now it has become a standard in our church," said Pridgen.

He believes that working together as community groups have in the past two weeks will eventually help change mind sets among people prone to violence.

Gray said, "It's a shame that you can't feel safe coming downtown, although we do come down quite regularly. And I think if you mind your business and stay out of places where trouble's brewing, you're all right."