One teen was killed, and five others sustained injuries following a shooting incident outside a house party in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday night, May 5, 2024. The violent event took place in the East Side neighborhood, merely blocks from a supermarket that was the scene of a mass shooting in 2022.
Officers from the Buffalo Police Department were dispatched to the private residence on Saturday evening following reports of loud music and disturbances from a crowd estimated at 100 people. The initial call received at 10:21 p.m. escalated to reports of a fight.
Upon arrival, police worked for approximately 30 minutes to break up multiple fights from a large party. A subsequent call at 11:10 p.m. alerted police to gunfire at the same address, where they discovered six teenagers had been shot. The shooting is believed to be connected to the earlier fight.
The 14-year-old girl killed has been identified as Jazzmine Fomby, a charter school student. She was discovered gravely injured and later pronounced dead after being transported to Oishei Children’s Hospital.
Four other teenagers were taken to Erie County Medical Center. A 15-year-old boy is reported as being in critical but stable condition. Three teens have been released from the hospital, while one declined treatment for minor injuries.
Jazzmine Fomby had a heart of gold,” said Alberta Ellis, a relative of the 14-year-old girl tragically killed in the shooting. Ellis expressed deep concern over gun violence plaguing the community, urging for greater involvement: “We desperately need to stop this violence and guide our young people away from the streets.”
Ellis described the profound grief of Fomby’s family, particularly her brother, who is struggling to cope with the loss of his sister. “We must unite to end this violence and protect our children,” she pleaded, emphasizing the urgency of addressing rising crime rates.
Community members like Henry Johnson, who also lost a loved one to gun violence, are echoing the need for change. Johnson believes the Buffalo community is responsible for supporting and guiding young people away from dangerous paths.
Currently, no arrests have been made in connection to the incident. The Buffalo Police Department seeks information and encourages anyone with insights to come forward. “We urge anyone involved to show your conscience and report what you know. It’s the least owed to the young girl who died and their families,” advised Buffalo’s Chief of Detectives, William Craig Macy, during a radio show.
Detective Macy noted that the investigation is examining the possibility of multiple shooters based on evidence that at least three handguns were present at the venue.
While the motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, initial findings suggest it emerged from disputes at the party. Detectives found several shell casings near the location and are seeking witnesses from the party to piece together the series of events leading to the shooting.
This recent violence unfolded near the Tops supermarket, the site of a tragic racially motivated mass shooting on May 14, 2022, which resulted in ten fatalities and three injuries.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $7500 for any information that leads to the apprehension of the suspect(s).
