Greece, N.Y. (WHAM) — A 17-year-old boy was hospitalized Saturday afternoon after sustaining a stab wound, according to the Greece Police Department.
“I’m grateful to our first responders. I feel terrible for the victim. He’s a Greece kid,” Councilmember Spencer Bernard said of the incident, Saturday.
Officers found the 17-year-old victim stabbed in the upper body, after responding at the mall shortly before 1:20 P.M.
The mall’s private security officers detained the suspect without incident, a 17-year-old from Rochester, who was charged with assault in the first degree. He is expected to be arraigned.
The victim was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Greece police also said the victim and suspect knew one another.
“I think all options must be on the table,” Bernard added. “I think we need to work with Wilmorite, who runs the mall, our Greece police officers, and with mall security and with any any group, frankly, that is willing to come up with solutions to make sure that our mall remains safe and remains vibrant.”
The Mall at Greece Ridge has a Greece Police substation, in-house security staff, as well as a Parental Escort Policy stipulating that patrons under 19 years of age must be escorted. A full time Greece Police Officer is assigned to the mall, according to Wilmorite.
In a written statement, members of the Greece Town Board said:
Comment with Bubbles
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (26)
“The stabbing at Greece Ridge Mall is completely unacceptable and has no place in our community. Our thoughts are with the victim and all those impacted by this violent act. Greece Ridge Mall is a vital community and economic anchor. Shoppers, employees and business owners deserve to always feel safe – without exception. Violence and fear cannot be tolerated in a place where families work, shop and gather. Retailers, including most recently Boscov’s, have invested substantial time, money and commitment into this mall. That investment must be protected and so must the people who rely on it every day. This incident makes clear that public safety must be treated as an absolute priority. We support strong, reasonable measures to ensure the safety of the mall. Our officers must have the resources and presence necessary to prevent violence and respond swiftly when incidents occur. We look forward to working with Supervisor McCann and Deputy Supervisor Miller to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to address this matter decisively. Public safety is not optional. It must – and will – always come first.