Two killed, another injured in three overnight shootings in Buffalo

The first shooting happened at about 1:20 a.m. on Shepard Street, off Broadway just west of Bailey Avenue. Police found a 22-year-old Hamburg man shot inside an apartment and a side porch of the home on fire.

The victim was taken to Erie County Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition. Firefighters responded to put out the flames.

At 1:26 a.m., police responded to Freund Street, near the Buffalo-Cheektowaga border, for a report of gunfire. Officers saw a large crowd of people running from the scene and found a 28-year-old man outside a home who had been shot multiple times. The victim, a Buffalo resident, died at the scene, police said.

At 2:18 a.m., police were called to an address on Montana Avenue, between East Ferry and Genesee streets. A 21-year-old Buffalo man who had been shot multiple times was found lying in a driveway. He was taken to ECMC where he later died.

Police have not released the names of any victims. All three shootings remain under investigation and investigators are looking into whether there are any connections among them.

These two homicides bring the city's total for the year so far to at least 21, according to department statistics. From Jan. 1 through April 9, 2020, there had been 16 homicides in Buffalo.

Gun violence in Buffalo has seen a surge since last year. Over the first two months of 2021, the number of people shot in Buffalo had risen 140% compared to the same period last year.

The increase in gun violence is part of a national trend.

As of Thursday night, the number of fatal shootings in the United States surpassed 5,000, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization that publishes information about incidents of gun violence.

In 2020, the country didn't pass that mark until April 30, according to the organization.

Police ask anyone with information about any of the shootings to call or text the department's confidential tip line at 847-2255.