City officials ask community for help in solving Maplewood Park shooting

Rochester, NY (WHAM) — Five people are injured in a mass shooting during a barbecue that left two women dead in Maplewood Park Sunday night.

City officials are asking for help in identifying those responsible.

“It’s not normal,” Mayor Malik Evans said. “People should be able to gather in a park without violence.”

BACKGROUND: Second victim dead after mass shooting in Maplewood Park

Hundreds of people had gathered when shots were heard around 6:20 p.m.

“We didn’t see any signs of people being disruptive or aggressive,” said Police Chief David Smith. “It was a barbecue.”

Police said shots were fired from multiple weapons, killing Tyasia Manning, 25, and Phylicia Council, 34.

Evans said Manning was a city employee who worked for the Department of Recreation and Human Services. Flags at city facilities will be flown at half-staff in her memory.

“Our residents should be able to enjoy the summer in a park, period,” Evans said. “But too often we have people in this community who are cowards and are okay with shooting women.”

City Councilwoman Bridget Monroe, whose district includes Maplewood Park, is calling on the community to help find those responsible.

“Rochester is not going to tolerate people coming and terrorizing others,” she said. “This is a wonderful city, a wonderful community. The event was a wonderful family event. I’ve spent a lot of time in that park, I’ve taken my kids to that park, I’ve had birthday parties there. No one should be in a park or anywhere and think they’re going to get shot.”

Anyone with information — even a small detail or a short video clip — is asked to call 911, the Rochester Police Department Major Crimes Unit at (585) 428-7157 or Crime Stoppers at (585) 423-9300. Tips can be emailed to [email protected].

“I ask our community to stand up and help us hold those who were violent at a barbecue in a park yesterday accountable for their actions,” he said. “To hold those who shot into a crowd and killed two women accountable for their cowardly actions.”