“All I could see was people just scattering” Witness describes waking up to gunfire at MLK Park

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Community members living and working around MLK Park in Rochester are reacting Monday following several security restrictions at the public space. This all comes after six people were shot this weekend.

Denzel Glenn lives is an apartment building overlooking MLK Park and tells News 8 he was awoken by loud popping noises Sunday morning. The incident occurred just before 3:00 a.m.

“I got woke out of my sleep – it all was like firecrackers or whatnot and just turns out: gunfire. So I got out of bed and I went to my balcony and I just looked and all I could see was people just scattering…like I’m not surprised. And then a few minutes police showed up. A whole like gang of police cars just coming out of the blue just ready to chase down the suspects. People running this way and that way and whatnot,” Glenn says.

Monday afternoon, at least three police investigators were on scene, canvasing the green space where the gathering allegedly occurred. When asked what was going through his mind at the time the events were unfolding, Glenn had this to say:

“They really don’t know how to chill out — that’s what was going through my head. And now here we are, more police, more cameras, more ignorance. The ignorance was just too powerful for them and now consequences,” says Glenn.

He notes there are a group of people which frequent the park in the overnight hours, with ATVs and motorcycles, often mostly chasing noise but being sent away by police. MLK Park is typically closed at 11:00 p.m. but will now shut down at 8:00 p.m. under the Mayor’s action. Court Street past Chestnut Street to the traffic circle will close at 7:00 p.m. as well.

RELATED COVERAGE: Mayor Evans announces changes to keep public spaces safe following MLK Park shooting

Two other community members News 8 spoke with on site at MLK Park Monday afternoon describe the situation as ‘worrisome,’ adding the increased police presence and early closures of the park feel, to them, reactionary in nature and detract from building public trust.

Denzel Glenn also offers insight into how he feels with the new security measures in place.

“My reaction is congratulations folks…you gonna turn this into Miami 2.0 — just like Miami now there’s gotta be laws and regulations and curfews. You can’t have nothing. You can’t have nothing cuz ya’ll don’t know how to chill out,” says Glenn.

Broken alcohol bottles, drink caps, a shot glass, and caution tape were all items seen strewn about the stairs leading into the base of the park, just beyond the green area where the gathering allegedly took place.

Mayor Malik Evans says the security measures will be in effect for the foreseeable future. Any city-sanctioned event, such as the Party in the Park concert series, will go on, as-planned.

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