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.

The two were shot to death last week (July 2nd) by unknown gunmen while the grandmother and grandson sat on a porch at a home on Grape Street in Buffalo's "Fruit Belt" neighborhood.  Family members had gathered to celebrate Yvette's birthday which took place the day before (July 1st).

Several Buffalo pastors also attended the service which saw caskets for the two victims placed next to each other.

Bishop Darius Pridgen, who is the Buffalo Common Council President, urged the crowd to remember the victims in a positive light.  However, Rev. Pridgen used an analogy of growing grapes and the clusters in the community to highlight the failure of instilling proper values in young people.

The service concluded with a mass balloon launch in memory of Yvette and Kyrie.  It was also meant as a signal to the community that the killings in Buffalo must stop.

Buffalo Police said detectives are making good progress in case.  Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call the Buffalo Police Confidential Tipcall Line at (716) 847-2255.

7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly has more in his report.