Tuesday April 15, 2003
Police Search for Suspects
by Jessica Williams
photo by Nate Kramer
Victim, Witnesses to shooting are Deaf
Rochester Police are asking the public for any details about a shooting that happened early Sunday morning. The victim remains in critical condition at Rochester General Hospital.
Rochester police answered a call for a shooting on North Street around 5:30 Sunday morning. They found Michael Ostrowski, 26, lying on the ground. He had been shot several times.
Many of the witnesses to the shooting are deaf. That made initial questioning by police very difficult.
Police say the victim was taking money at the door for a large party inside the house.
Police believe the two suspects sneaked into the party but were escorted outside, possibly by Ostrowski. Witnesses tell police the two men called Ostrowski out to the sidewalk.
One pulled out a gun and fired eight to ten times. Ostrowski was hit four times and rushed to Rochester General Hospital with severe injuries.
The suspects ran away. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community Liaison for the Rochester Police Department was called to the scene.
Police say it also took a while for interpreters to arrive. Officers were forced to communicate with partygoers by using pen and paper.
Police officials admit this impacted the initial search for the shooter.
"Anytime the communication process is delayed we have to take into account the fact that that is time the investigation is delayed also,” said Sgt. Carlos Garcia, of the Rochester Police Department.
The police department is working on training more people to use American Sign Language.
Police are looking for the two men responsible. If you have any information you're urged to call 911.