Police are continuing their search for a suspect after a man was shot and killed on the city's north side. The shooting happened around 1:30 p.m. Friday on Delamaine Drive, near Portland Avenue.
"They're out here every day, all day long,” said Billy Mericle.Drug dealers.
"Like I joke with people at work: it's a drive-thru pharmacy.”
Billy and Anna Mericle say the drug exchanges sometimes even happen on their own steps, at the corner of Portland and Delamaine.
"I kinda figured something would happen. I didn't think it would actually get this drastic."
"We're looking at one shooter,” said Sgt. Justin Collins of the Rochester Police Department.
Police say they're not sure why the lone gunman chose his victims. Neither do they know what may have led to the gunfire.
"Two individuals gathered out here today. We don't know the reasons why they were gathered,” Collins said.
The shooter fired several times, striking a 24-year-old man, and another man, around 19-years old. The teen victim was pronounced dead soon after, at Strong Hospital. The other man is recovering, though police could not say how serious his injuries were.
The Mericles say young teens and even pre-teens regularly congregate around those drug dealing hot-spots. It only saddens them more that one so young was caught in the crossfire.
"I've seen anywhere from like 12-years-old, to about 30, 35-ish,” Billy said.
"I do want to send my condolence out for the mother that lost that son, because that's got to be a horrible feeling," said Anna.
A memorial was set up for the victim in this shooting. Friends and relatives of that victim did not want to speak Friday night, other than to say they will be adding to that memorial.
The police investigation continues, but at last check, there are no leads on a suspect in the case. The RPD is once again pleading for help from the community to track this shooter down.