Activist speaks out on recent shooting

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - News 4 has been getting conflicting reports about the relationship between the victim Ahmen Lester and Riccardo McCray.

What we can say for sure is that the two men knew each other.

Ahmen Lester had already survived being shot two other times.

But when the 34 year old was shot for a third time on East Ferry and Ernst Avenue Friday afternoon, he did not survive his injuries.

Lester's sister tells News 4 that he is not related to Riccardo McCray.

The two did know each other though.

McCray is facing eight murder charges in the shootings outside City Grill.

Community activist Darnell Jackson said, "The young man that was murdered yesterday Ahmen Lester, he was one of the men who was instrumental in me bringing in McCray for questioning."

Jackson says Lester had moved to North Carolina to turn his life around.

He was 16 years old when he was first shot on Bissell Avenue.

That happened in 1992.

He was also shot in 2003.

"My call today is for the families, the parents of the victims of the homicides that happened at city grill because it's the children of certain families that's committing these crimes or the retaliation crimes," added Jackson.

Jackson says grieving families must send this message to their relatives.

Jackson said, "If you kill somebody in somebody else's family, somebody's gonna come back and kill somebody in your family so where is it gonna stop? We can't continue to keep these homicides going."

Willie Warren of Warrens' Auto Service added, "The people responsible for the way this neighborhood is they know who they are and I think we should get together."

Warren has owned a successful auto shop in the neighborhood for decades.

He says it's time residents start changing their own destiny the way he did.

Community Activists are urging everybody to start working together and with police.

Jackson even said, "Or call me Darnell Jackson. Everybody know my number is 570-9165."

The day of prayer Darnell Jackson is organizing will take place at 5 PM Sunday evening on Ernst and Ferry, where Ahmen Lester was shot.

If you have any information on this shooting you're asked to call police at 847-2255.