Syracuse Grieves After Violent Day: 22-Year-Old Junito Ebk Killed in City’s Deadliest Shooting in Recent Memory
SYRACUSE, NY — A wave of violence swept through Syracuse on Sunday, leaving four people shot in less than 15 hours. The most devastating of these incidents occurred at 6:10 p.m., when 22-year-old Junito Ebk was found with a gunshot wound on Westmoreland Avenue, across from Parkside Commons apartments. He was rushed to Upstate University Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
His body had reportedly collapsed just feet from the entrance of the residential complex. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with residents rushing to windows and the sound of sirens echoing moments later. The stark image of Junito lying motionless across the pavement has now become a haunting symbol of a city’s ongoing struggle with gun violence.
Junito’s death marked the fourth shooting in Syracuse within a span of less than 15 hours, underscoring what community members and leaders alike are calling a public safety crisis. Prior to the Westmoreland Avenue shooting:
- A man in his 30s was shot in the leg earlier that morning.
- A 20-year-old was shot in the back, requiring emergency medical treatment.
- Just before Junito’s shooting, an 18-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the lower back.
Each of these incidents is being investigated separately, but the close timing and geographic proximity have shaken residents, many of whom no longer feel safe in their own neighborhoods.
Who Was Junito Ebk?
While details about Junito’s personal life remain private, tributes online describe a young man full of ambition, loyalty, and streetwise intelligence. He was known in his community for his charisma, sharp sense of humor, and the respect he gave to those around him. To friends and family, he was not just another statistic—he was a brother, a son, and a friend whose life was taken too soon.
Social media platforms have since been flooded with messages of love, grief, and anger, mourning his loss while calling for justice and change.
“Rest in peace, Junito. You didn’t deserve this,” one post read.
“We love you, bro. Syracuse lost one of the realest,” another friend shared.
Syracuse has faced increasing challenges with gun violence in recent years, especially among youth and in historically underserved neighborhoods. These latest shootings have only intensified calls for:
- Stronger gun control measures, especially targeting illegal firearms.
- More youth outreach programs, mentorship, and safe community spaces.
- Enhanced policing efforts, with an emphasis on building trust within communities rather than fear.
- Mental health and trauma support for victims, families, and residents affected by chronic exposure to violence.
Community leaders, including local clergy and anti-violence advocates, are urging city officials to treat the crisis like a public health emergency. Vigils and emergency meetings have already been proposed in response to Junito’s death.
As of now, no arrests have been made in any of the four shootings. The Syracuse Police Department is actively investigating all incidents and is encouraging anyone with information to come forward.
Anyone with tips can contact the Syracuse Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division or make anonymous reports through local Crime Stoppers services.
The lives impacted by Sunday’s violence cannot be reduced to headlines. For the families now planning funerals instead of celebrations, the trauma is profound and the pain immeasurable.
To the family of Junito Ebk, and to the loved ones of all those affected by the shootings, we extend our deepest condolences. May your strength guide you through these dark hours, and may your communities rally around you in support.
Junito’s name now joins too many others lost to senseless violence in Syracuse. His memory, however, will not fade. It will fuel the calls for change, and—hopefully—inspire the solutions that are so urgently needed.
If you would like to honor Junito’s memory, community members are organizing a candlelight vigil near Parkside Commons in the coming days. Details will be shared as soon as they are available.
Let us remember: behind every siren and every headline is a human being—with a story, a family, and a future that deserved protecting.
Rest in Peace, Junito Ebk. Gone too soon, never forgotten.