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Questions linger one year after Grape Street shooting where grandmother and toddler were killed

Posted at 1:11 PM, Jul 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-07-02 23:35:44-04

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A 17-month-old child and his 54-year-old grandmother were killed in a shooting on Grape Street one year ago Tuesday.

Yvette Johnson and her grandson, Kyrie were shot during a family gathering in the early morning hours of July 2, 2018.

According to police, multiple people walked up to the home and fired gunshots while the family was sitting on the front porch.

Police say a second shooting that was connected to the Grape Street shooting took place later in July. Two men were taken to ECMC.

Two months later, authorities arrested 25-year-old Kenyatta Austin in connection to the shooting on July 2. However, police along with the FBI are looking for others who were involved in the deadly shooting.

Here's a breakdown of events that led up to the arrest of Austin, and the continuing investigation.

  • July 2 17-month-old, grandmother killed in Fruit Belt shooting

Multiple people walked up to the home and fired gunshots while the family was sitting on the front porch, police say.

  • July 9 Grandmother & grandson shooting victims laid to rest

Close to 900 people filled True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo for the funerals of Yvette Johnson, 54, and her one-year-old grandson Kyrie Johnson.

  • July 24 Crime Stoppers offers $4,000 reward for information on Grape Street shooting

Buffalo Police and Crime Stoppers offered a reward for any tips that could help them track down the person who shot and killed Yvette and Kyrie Johnson.

  • July 26 Second shooting is connected to deadly shooting of grandma, grandson

Police say a second shooting that happened on Grape Street was connected to the shooting that killed a grandmother and a baby earlier in July.

  • July 27 Community leaders react to Fruit Belt shootings

Community leaders went door to door helping neighbors in the Fruit Belt community grieve.

  • July 28 Fruit Belt community comes together to curb violence

Solutions discussed included more cameras, stronger relationships with authorities and breaking the silence.

  • August 29 Man charged with two counts of murder in Grape Street double homicide

Police say Kenyatta Austin shot and killed Yvette Johnson, 54, and her 17-month-old grandson Kyrie on the porch of their Grape Street home on July 2.

  • September 7 FBI offering $25,000 reward for information on Grape Street homicides

The FBI and the Buffalo Police Department are still searching for others who were involved in the Grape Street shooting. If you have any information concerning this case, contact the FBI's Buffalo Field Office at (716) 856-7800.

Erie County District Attorney John Flynn said in a phone interview, "We wanna catch them all. As far as I'm concerned, the fact that we have on individual is not good enough."

Pastor James Giles of Back to Basics Outreach Ministry and the Buffalo Peacemakers added the nature of the crime should move those with any information to come forward. "A baby and a grandmother, right. Just the weight of that alone should inspire and provoke people to come out," he said.