Girl, 4 other people shot dead during memorial service planned to live

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Police were looking for suspects on Friday that said they opened fire on dozens of people gathered for a memorial service in front of a house in Syracuse, wounding an 8-year-old girl and four other people.

The five victims were in stable condition at the Upstate University Hospital and were expected to survive after being shot around 9 pm. Thursday, said the police chief of Syracuse, Frank Fowler. The victims are between 8 and 35 years old.

Witnesses told The Post-Standard that they had seen two or three shooters and heard at least 10 shots. The police did not confirm the number of shooters or revealed a possible motive.

Neighbors told the police that about 50 people had gathered in front of a house to commemorate a man recently deceased from cancer. Tammy Jamison said that she and the others ran into the house to take cover when the shots exploded.

"When the shooting started, I ducked it," she told the newspapers. "What would you do?"

The police remained on the scene gathering evidence overnight, finally leaving the area around 20 hours.

No arrests have been reported.

Fowler urged anyone with information on shooters to contact the police.

"We will launch a wide net to get any information possible," he said.

Neighbors said the shooting took place outside the home of a family who had lost a 20-month-old child as a result of gun violence in November 2010.

Police said Rashaad Walker Jr. was sitting in a car seat in a van parked in another part of the city when he was shot by his father, a prominent gang member. . A member of a rival gang was later convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison for life.

Police confirmed that the man in mourning during the memorial service was related to the Walker family.

"At this point, we have no motive for shooting, so we can not say for sure if the incidents are related," said the Syracuse police spokesman, Sgt. Richard Helterline.

A large sign with the photo of the toddler is posted outside the house where the Thursday shootout occurred. Candles placed in front of the sign were lit as the police painted the street for used bushings and other evidence.

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Information from: The Post-Standard, http://www.syracuse.com