ROCHESTER, N.Y. – One police officer was killed and another was injured when a gunman opened fire in Rochester, New York, on Thursday night, according to multiple media reports.
A bystander was also injured in the shooting, which occurred at about 9:15 p.m. EDT, WROC-TV reported.
Police Chief David Smith identified the slain officer as Anthony Mazurkiewicz, a 29-year member of the department.
“Last night, Officer Mazurkiewicz and his partner, Officer Sino Seng, were attacked in a cowardly ambush and fell victim to the very violence in our community that we are trying to combat,” Smith said at a briefing Friday.
The two Rochester Police Department officers were patrolling as part of a plainclothes tactical unit when at least one male approached them and opened fire, according to the television station. Both officers were struck, along with a woman who was nearby.
One officer was taken to Rochester General Hospital and the other officer was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, WHEC-TV reported.
The shootings occurred on the same day that Rochester Mayor Malik Evans declared a state of emergency in the city because of gun violence, the Democrat & Chronicle reported.
There have been 41 homicides in Rochester this year, according to the newspaper.
“The tragic gun violence in Rochester must come to an end,” Evans said in a statement Thursday night. “Today, we declared a gun violence emergency in our community and this shooting is proof that we are indeed, in an emergency.
“Our police officers are out there sacrificing their lives for us every day. They perform their jobs in dangerous conditions as we go about our daily lives and we owe them a great debt of gratitude. I pray for the comfort of the officers shot tonight, and for their families, friends, and all of their fellow first responders.”
The woman was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered to be life-threatening, WROC reported.
No arrests had been made.
