Two killed, 14 wounded after mass shooting in New York's Rochester

Two people were killed and 14 were injured in a shooting at a backyard party in Rochester, New York, in the early hours of Saturday, a police official said, describing it as "a tragedy of epic proportions."

Interim Police Chief Mark Simmons said the shooting occurred on Pennsylvania Avenue, and that the 14 people who were hurt suffered non-life threatening injuries and were being treated at the hospital, reports New York Times.

"It's a very large crime scene," Mr Simmons said. "We have evidence scattered at multiple locations, victims arriving at different hospitals and just trying to identify and interview citizens."

One man and one woman were killed, both between the ages of 18 and 22, according to the police. Rochester, a city of 200,000 in western New York, has faced a spate of shootings in recent months reports New York Times

The city's police department has come under heightened scrutiny after the suffocation of Daniel Prude, a Black man who died after he was handcuffed and had his head pushed on the pavement as officers pulled a mesh hood over him.

Seven officers were suspended earlier this month in connection to Mr. Prude's death and on Monday, Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren fired the police chief, La'Ron Singletary, reports New York Times

Police said they did not believe the shooting was tied to the recent demonstrations.

Mr Simmons said that about 100 people were at the house party when shots rang out and people began running. No arrests have been made yet reports New York Times.

"This is yet another tragedy where individuals are having these illegal, unsanctioned house parties taking place in these properties, which — number one — is not safe because of Covid, because of the conditions," he said. "And then you add in alcohol and violence and it just becomes a recipe for disaster."