When the news about the Tops shooting in Buffalo reverberated around the world, the common narrative was that the white-supremacist terrorist had selected a "predominantly Black neighborhood" in which to inflict his hate. But Cold Spring is so much more than that to its residents. Hear from residents Lisa Wilson, Tyree Lemon, Eddie Colbert, Fred Eckles and Julie Harwell as they describe what the Cold Spring community means to them.
The people who live in the Cold Spring neighborhood of Buffalo that adjoins the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue have spent the week trying to fathom why a gunman would target them and their neighbors. But in interviews, they talked as much about their pride in who they are and what their neighborhood represents than the pain they are being forced to endure.
Cold Spring resident Lisa Wilson retired from the Buffalo police after 26 years on the force.
"It hurts that someone outside of our community could come here and specifically target my people … And when I say my people it’s because we get this all the time and it hurts. And we’re tired. Just tired." – Lisa Wilson
Tyree and Tracey Lemon and their daughters Queen, 10 months old and Santana, 1, outside the Tops Friendly Markets on Jefferson Avenue.
"I never thought I would ever witness nothing like this. It’s just hard. People need to come together. It’s time to stop talking and time to start showing." – Tyree Lemon
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Cold Spring resident Eddie Colbert drove a taxi cab for 25 years.
"There’s a lot of history here. A lot of history on this street right here. You got Juneteenth. Rick James. James Brown. The Pine Grill. Jefferson Avenue stands for something." – Eddie Colbert
Fred Eckles and his 2½-year-old daughter, Robbie, sit on their porch on Laurel Street.
"Everyone looks out for everybody. It’s a multicultural neighborhood and we all get along. That means a lot more than just a community; that’s family." – Fred Eckles
Cold Spring resident Julie Harwell works as a chef.
"We come together every time. And we stay together." – Julie Harwell
In this Series
Complete coverage: 10 killed, 3 wounded in mass shooting at Buffalo supermarket
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Updated
Hochul pledges pursuit of justice after shooting, calls on sites to crack down on white supremacist content
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Updated
Sean Kirst: In Buffalo, hearing the song of a grieving child who 'could not weep anymore'
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Updated
Recently retired police officer, mother of former fire commissioner both killed in Tops shooting
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