BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Erie County is teaming up with local law enforcement to fight gun violence.
The county invested $80,000 to beef up the rewards for information leading to an arrest and prosecution in fatal or non-fatal shootings, or to the recovery of firearms believed to be used to commit a violent crime.
The new reward amounts are:
- $7,500 for information leading to an arrest and prosecution in a homicide ($2,500 from the City, County and Crime Stoppers)
- $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and prosecution in a shooting incident (funded by the county)
- $1,000 for information leading to a weapons seizure, arrest and prosecution (funded by the county)
Last year in Buffalo, 45 people died due to gun violence.
The Erie County District Attorney’s Office is also supporting the initiative with $10,000 in funding. It will be matched by Crime Stoppers and be used for the Stop the Violence billboard campaign.
Billboards will begin appearing on Monday, March 11 at twenty locations across Erie County and will move to new locations every four weeks through September 22. Each location was chosen based upon historical shooting data provided by the Erie County Crime Analysis Center.
Anyone with information on a crime can report it on the Buffalo Tips app that can be downloaded for free at the Apple App Store or on Google Play or call 716.867.6161. All tips will remain anonymous.
