Five shot while picnicking in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Five people were shot in Martin Luther King Park on the city's east side Saturday night, the most people shot at one time since the shootings on Main Street outside City Grill in August of 2010.

Buffalo Police say a man walked up to a group of people at a picnic shelter in the park around 8:30 p.m. night and opened fire. Four males and one female were shot. Police say two of the five victims are in critical condition. People who were in the park at the time were obviously shaken by the incident.

Tonya Pickett-Stewart, who witnessed the shooting, said, "It was devastating. I could not believe it. Just seconds. I was right here. Right there, thinking that boys are playing, and they're being shot? Yeah, that's devastating."

Chief of Detectives Dennis Richards said, "The gunman had walked up, opened fire with a semi-automatic type of weapon and struck five individuals."

Investigators have not given a motive for the shootings. Police describe the suspect as a black male, about 5'11" with a dark or black-hooded sweatshirt and light-colored jeans.

At a press conference on Sunday, Mayor Byron Brown, Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda, and Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita all gathered to assure the public that MLK Park is safe. They did not offer any more details about the shooting, such as the victims' name.

Authorities did briefly address another shooting overnight in the city on Minnesota Avenue, where a 22-year-old woman was shot and killed. You can read more about that story here.

In the meantime, police ask anyone with information to call or text the confidential tipline, 716-847-2255.