Reward offered a month after deadly mass shooting at party
Police investigating a mass shooting at a crowded house party in Rochester, New York, that killed two teenagers and wounded 14 others have joined with grieving parents to plead for witnesses to come forward
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Police investigating a mass shooting at a crowded house party in Rochester New York, last month that killed two teenagers and wounded 14 others joined with grieving parents Thursday to plead for witnesses to come forward as they announced a $10,000 reward
Three or four people opened fire just after midnight on Sept. 19, killing Jaquayla Young and Jarvis Alexander, both 19. The party was supposed to have been a small gathering, but people from two other nearby parties showed up, and an argument broke out.
Police found more than 40 bullet casings at the scene. The wounded and the dead were all between the ages of 17 and 23.
More than a month into the investigation, Rochester police officials said that some people have cooperated with them and that they have several people of interest. But they're not prepared to make an arrest.
“We need further information. We need more people to come forward. There’s over 200 people there. There should be a line outside of our door,” Rochester Police Capt. Frank Umbrino said at a news conference.
Along with CrimeStoppers and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, police said they were offering a reward of as much as $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
“I'd just like you to put yourself in our shoes,” said James Alexander, the father of Jarvis Alexander. “Somebody knows something. And if you have that information, I feel you're obligated to come forward simply because those lives that were taken were innocent.”
Young, who was attending Monroe Community College, was captain of her high school’s cheerleading team and a member of the track team. Alexander, a sophomore at Alfred University, was on his high school’s football and track teams and won a state championship in the 4x100-meter relay.
The deadly shooting came weeks after the revelation of Daniel Prude’s police suffocation death in the Lake Ontario city. Rochester had already been roiled by nightly protests, allegations of a cover-up, and calls for the mayor’s resignation and the arrests of the officers involved in Prude’s death.