Rochester Police are investigating the shooting death of a 17-year-old on the west side of the city on Friday afternoon.
Police say at about 2:45 pm, Bryson Simpson and three of his friends had just got off the school bus and were walking on the sidewalk on Otis Street, when a suspect was walking on the opposite side of the street.
Officers say at some point the suspect turned and fired multiple gunshots at the group. Simpson was struck in the upper body and pronounced dead at the scene. None of the three individuals with Simpson were struck by the gunfire. After the shooting the suspect fled the area.
RPD is asking anyone with information to call 911, the Major Crimes Unit at: 585-428-7157, Crime Stoppers at 585-423-9300, or email MajorCrimes@cityofrochester.gov.
Rochester Mayor Malik Evans released a statement Friday, calling the shooting “yet another example of the senseless violence that continues to plague our city and should be a call to action to our entire community.”
City School Superintendent Lesli Myers-Small issues a statement saying that the district is “devastated” by the death of a student and a trauma, illness and grief team will be available on Monday to counsel Simpson’s friends, classmates and staff. She also asked that people in the district provide support to students who are experiencing traumatic events every day.
