The officer shot and killed Thursday night in northeast Rochester was a 29-year veteran of the force. Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz was shot and killed in an ambush on Bauman Street. He was shot at least once in the upper body.
His partner, Officer Sino Seng, was shot at least once in the lower body. A woman was also shot. Their injuries are not considered life-threatening, according to Chief David Smith.
Mazurkiewicz was a father and husband, he said.
A visibly-emotional Smith thanked local law enforcement agencies for rushing in to help – and for working now to “bring whoever is responsible for this heinous act to justice.”
“As we speak it is worth remember the brave men and women of the Rochester Police Department right now who are working to protect our community despite this horrific and shocking loss to our family,” he said.
Mayor Malik Evans, who, along with Smith, was at the shooting scene Thursday night, called this a “sad day for our community.”
“I am angry and upset because all too often we are seeing over and over again blatant disregard for life,” he said, “be it an old woman on her porch or a 10-year-old girl braiding her mother’s hair and now an officer, in the line of duty working to keep our city safe,” he said.
The triple shooting came hours after Evans declared a state of emergency due to gun violence.
Evans praised the dedication of the police department who, even though they knew two of their colleagues were wounded, and are continuing to answer calls.
He implored anyone with information to come forward.
“Anyone that saw anything, you need to speak up. Now is your time to speak up. It was Tony Mazurkiewicz but it can be any of us in this room tomorrow. This is a clarion call for this community to speak up,” he said.
Source: 13WHAM-TV
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