Double homicide spawns new peace effort

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The aftermath of a double homicide brought families and community leaders together in Buffalo with the aim of taking back the streets.

There have been 46-murders in the city this year and the frustration is building. There is a new push for information on the Tuesday murders of a couple on Minnesota Avenue and there is a new effort to stop the bleeding on Buffalo's east side.

Twenty-eight-year-old Shameka Harris and her 23-year-old boyfriend Joshua Eatmon were shot in the cab that Harris drove for a living. It was parked outside their home on Minnesota Avenue.

RELATED | Harris's co-workers spoke after learning of her death, saying she was a tremendous person

Buffalo Police believe they were targeted and drugs may have been involved. But Harris leaves behind four children who now have nothing.

Her mother, Odessa Harris, said, "Right now they don't got nothing because we can't even get in the house right now. The house is boarded up. The landlord boarded the house up."

Eatmon had served time behind bars for various crimes, including the rape of a 14-year-old girl, but was trying to get his life together, according to his mother, Belinda Lumpkin.

"He served time, they all did. They all done stuff out here. But not to be shot up and gunned down like that. What's wrong? Put these damn guns away," she said.

Many anti-violence groups combining to call themselves the 'Peacemakers' are vowing step up efforts fight the criminal element in their neighborhoods. But will it make a difference this time?

Peacemakers spiritual director Rev. James Lewis said, "The mayor himself has come forward backing the issue with the Peacemakers, so that we can develop a very broad peacekeeping initiative for the City of Buffalo."

Erie County Legislature Chair Betty Jean Grant says she will work to pool city and county resources to help this effort succeed and wants to start with the solving of these most recent murders.

"Please, if you know anything, please come forward, because this cannot happen again," Grant said.

The group hopes to put an end to what they call "community-imposed genocide." If you would like to help Harris's children, you can call 602-5877 to speak to Grant.