SYRACUSE -- Syracuse police were back on Lilac Street today, the site of Syracuse's first homicide of the year. 47-year-old Casmir Snyder, a city DPW worker, was gunned down in broad daylight Sunday afternoon. "This is a little too close for comfort to be at home like this. It's crazy," said neighbor Jessica Hartz.
It's been a deadly start to the new year with a weekend full of violence. Four people were shot on Kellogg Street early Sunday morning. It's the same street where a man was stabbed multiple times last week. "There's poverty, unemployment, everything's just melting. It's like a meltdown in our community," said Walt Dixie, Executive Director of Jubilee Homes of Syracuse.
It's violence that's shaking the city from the north to the southwest side. Now, neighbors, police and community leaders say enough is enough. "Families have to take personal responsibility. What is a 15, 16-year-old going at a party at 2 a.m.? What does that say about you as a parent?" Dixie said.
"It's all over no matter where you go, all over Syracuse. Nothing's gonna change. It's the people that have to change," Hartz said.
Neighbors are now reacting to this recent rash of violence. They say it's up to all of us, parents, police and neighbors to stop the cycle of violence and they're pledging to do more. "I know we have the neighborhood watch. I think we need more people involved in it like myself to get more involved in it to know what's going on in our community," said neighbor Oddida Darby.
Police also promise to tackle the problem head-on, using any and all resources to keep Syracuse safe.
