Shooting victim talks to News10NBC

Posted at: 06/27/2012 5:40 PM | Updated at: 06/27/2012 6:32 PM
By: Ray Levato | WHEC.com

Police say robbery was the motive behind the latest shooting. The victim spoke Wednesday with News10NBC.

The young man News10NBC spoke with has two bullet holes in his leg. One in his calf and the other in his ankle, but he is lucky to be alive.

The victim calls himself a cool working guy who works in demolition. He says he was helping his sister get into her house, which is next door to their mom's house, when he was approached by some kids who asked him for money. The victim says he tried to swat the gun away and then ran.

The victim said, "They wanted money. They just wanted some money. A bunch of kids having fun you know, in the wrong way."

News10NBC asked who had the gun and what kind of gun, the man said one of the little kids had the gun and it was a big revolver like a .45.

The victim also said,"They fired twice, I was shot twice. At first I didn't know I was hit. I was running toward my house. And then once I fell, I felt the burning come through my body and I thought, not this way, don't end it this way."

The victim says some friends loaded him into a car and drove him to Strong Hospital. The victim also said if his attacker is found, he doesn't want him to go to jail.

He said, " I don't think jail is the best place for any kid. I just don't see it. You don't teach a kid a lesson by putting him in jail. You're in jail, you're around criminals and you learn criminal activity."

The representative for city police officers is Mike Mazzeo.

Mazzeo said," We have a police department that doesn't have youth officers that we used to have years ago. They're making some strides to get back there but that's where we have to re-focus because the age of the individuals who are committing crimes keeps going lower and lower and lower."

There have been 90 shootings in the first six months of this year. That averages to one every other day so far. News10NBC spoke with Reverend Marlowe Washington, Pastor of the Christ Community Church of Rochester. He has been involved in youth anti-violence efforts. Reverend Washington thinks gang activity is picking up in Rochester.

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