Residents Hold ‘Stop the Violence’ Rally, Speak Out About Gun Violence in Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Residents took to the streets of Buffalo Wednesday to voice their concerns about gun violence across the city. Community members say too many innocent lives have been lost and something needs to change.

Tara and Taru Woods organized a “Stop the Violence” rally to raise awareness about the gun violence happening in their neighborhood. The rally took place just five days after three-year-old Ramone Carter was shot and killed on Domedion Avenue.

Both Tara and Taru are parents. They say the shooting hit close to home.

“We have teenagers, so to know that these guns are in the hands of children who haven’t even lived their lives and then they took the life of a child, a baby who hadn’t even had a baby yet. lucky enough to go to school, didn’t experience any other part of life besides being at home with his mother,” Tara said.

“Losing a three-year-old child, losing anyone, but losing a beautiful baby who didn’t even have a chance to live? It’s just tragic,” Taru said.

At a news conference Tuesday, Acting Erie County Prosecutor Michael Keane said there were no possible consequences in the state’s criminal justice system for the parents of the two teenagers charged.

Taru said that as a father, it is quite difficult to control what another person can do in a split second.

“It’s so hard because you can’t fit a lot of things into a person,” he said. “Once they leave your gates, it’s free will.”

That’s where groups like Most Valuable Parents of Buffalo step in to help. It’s an organization that advocates for safer neighborhoods and helps parents who have lost children to gun violence.

Shakenya Griffin, Carter’s mother, is an active member of MVP. At the rally, another volunteer in the group described Carter’s killing as a double-edged sword.

“No matter what, it’s not a win-win, it’s a lose-lose for both parties,” said MVP member Marlon Keith. “Someone’s child is going to jail. Someone’s child is already dead, so there’s no winner.”

Keith said MVP is always looking for more volunteers. He plans to involve young people in other activities to keep them safe and prevent them from ending up on the streets.

According to Michael Keane, the 16-year-old is charged as an adult and faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The 14-year-old faces a different sentence because of his age, which ranges from a maximum of 15 years to life in prison.

Both teens are expected to return for a pretrial conference on July 24. Both are being held without bail at the Erie County Youth Services Center.