Police look for clues in shooting of 5

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Officials are vowing to track down the gunman who shot five people at Buffalo's Martin Luther King Park Saturday night.

The hunt is on for the man show opened fire at a group of people picnicking at in the park. Five people, one woman and four men, were shot. Two of them are in critical condition, while the others are expected to survive.

Mayor Byron Brown said, "Those families whose mothers, grandmothers, aunts, nieces, on this Mother's Day, are changed forever."

It happened around 8:30 p.m. A man approached a group of between 50 and 60 people at a picnic shelter in MLK Park and opened fire.

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Debroah Smith's 8-year-old granddaughter, Symone, was in the park when it happened.

"This is too close to my home. And if these kids can't play in the park, and can't be protected, why do we have a park?" questioned Smith.

Samuel A. Herbert of the Coalition to Save MLK Park warned the shooter, "What you all did yesterday was crossed the line when you stepped in Martin Luther King Park."

Community members have been working to make the park a bright spot on the east side.

"It goes against everything Martin Luther King stood for, and that is non-violence," noted Herbert.

And now there is a plea for anyone who knows something to come forward.

Herbert added, "Some of you know who did this. It is hip to snitch when black folks are killing black folks."

Police Commissioner Daniel Derenda stated, "We are going to aggressively pursue this coward that is out there that committed this heinous act. It is not going to be tolerated and we are going to work 24/7 to get this job done and utilize every tool available."

Police are confident that there are people with information. With those clues, they say they can solve this crime.

Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita assured, "When people come forward and tell us what happened, we can aggressively prosecute the people who commit these outrageous crimes and put them in jail for the rest of their lives."

"You can run, but you can't hide. You shouldn't feel comfortable anywhere you go in this community," added Mayor Brown.

Police describe the suspect as a black male, about 5'11" with a dark or black-hooded sweatshirt and light-colored jeans. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 847-2255.