DRUG VIOLENCE INVADES DAY CARE

5 Children Safe, Woman Hurt in Shooting At Scio Street Home

A drug dealer fighting for turf chased another dealer into a family day
care home and fired a shotgun blast through the door Thursday afternoon,
injuring a woman, police said.

A woman who saw the shotgun-wielding drug dealer slammed the door shut and
held it closed to keep the man out. But the man fired and the woman was hit
in the side and the arm. She was taken to Rochester General Hospital with
non-life-threatening wounds, said Police Chief Robert Duffy.

Police did not identify the woman.

Duffy said five children were inside 296 Scio St., a licensed family day care.

"We could have had literally babies die today," Duffy said. He added that
the day care home was well-known in the neighborhood and that even though
there is no sign outside, whoever fired the shot knew that there were
children inside.

"It shows you the state of mind we're dealing with," Duffy said. "If my
children were in there, I would be ... furious."

Duffy said the people in the home are not involved with either drug dealer.

No arrest had been reported Thursday evening.

Duffy said drug dealers terrorize the area's residents. Police are working
to enforce the laws, but the problem persists, he said. He said anyone who
buys drugs in that area should know they almost contributed to children's
deaths. "They're the ones who keep the drug dealers in business," he said.

The building that houses the day care home is owned by New Bethel C.M.E.
Church, on the same block. Its pastor, the Rev. Raymond Graves, called the
shooting unconscionable.

"I don't think there should be any mercy for anyone or sympathy toward any
individual who would endanger people's lives," he said.

State officials said they were told there were three children at the home
and they didn't know their ages.

State law allows registered day care providers to have up to seven children
in their home, but no more than two younger than 2.

Bill Van Slyke of Children and Family Services in Albany said his office
was cooperating with police.