Rochester police dead after 'cowardly' ambush, councilman tells mourners to 'choke on your prayers' and calls for gun control

Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz died after he and his partner, Officer Sino Seng, were ambushed and shot Thursday night in an event described by new Democrat Mayor Malik Evans as another episode of "gun violence."

In response to the shooting Rochester City Councilman Michael Patterson told mourners to "choke on your prayers" as he echoed the mayor's sentiment that "gun violence" was the primary problem.

According to local news, the two police were working their detail around 9:15 pm near the area of Bauman Street when an unidentified male approached and shot them.

Officer Seng was rushed to Rochester General Hospital with a gunshot wound to his lower body and is now home and recovering. Officer Mazurkiewicz died at Strong Memorial Hospital from upper body gunshot wounds. Mazurkiewicz was a 29-year veteran of the police force.

An innocent bystander, a woman, was also shot but survived. The police have no suspects.

In a statement, Rochester Mayor Evans said, "The tragic gun violence in Rochester must come to an end. Today, we declared a gun violence emergency in our community and this shooting is proof that we are indeed in an emergency."

Mayor Evans recently took over from disgraced former Democrat Lovely Warren.

The former governor faced felony firearm and child endangerment charges after a 2021 police raid at her house while her husband was arrested for his involvement in a cocaine distribution ring.

Warren also led the city during two years of violence, looting, and rising crime. Rochester, like Portland, Seattle, and other Democrat led cities was mired in BLM and Antifa driven rioting from 2020 through 2021.

Faced with the lack of support from the governor, calls to "defund the police," and incessant crime Rochester's Police Chief La'Ron Singletary, along with his entire command staff, resigned in September 2020.

La’Ron Singletary is now a Republican New York congressional candidate and said in a statement, "These brave heroes were doing their job protecting the citizens of our city and were viciously attacked by a coward who has no regard for human life. Our city is under siege, and we must stand with those who have sworn an oath to serve and protect us.Join me in praying for all the men and women of the Rochester Police Department and especially for the two heroes who knowingly put themselves in harm’s way in service to our city and its citizens."

RPD Chief David Smith said at a press briefing, "Last night, Officer Mazurkiewicz and his partner, Officer Sino Seng, were attacked in a cowardly ambush and fell victim to the very violence in our community that we are trying to combat. During this incident, the full force of the region's law enforcement responded to the scene. This same full force is being utilized to bring whoever is responsible for this heinous act to justice."