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(4 PM) Family Members Of Dunkirk Stabbing Victim Plead For Cooperation With Police Investigation

Family members of a girl who has died from a Wednesday stabbing are asking community members who witnessed what happened on Wednesday to start talking to law-enforcement officials so that an arrest can be made in the tragic incident.

In a phone conversation with the OBSERVER this afternoon, a spokesman shared a number of frustrations while noting the family is mourning the loss of a 15-year-old girl. That family member also was critical of city police noting they let the person who was responsible for the death get away.

As of this afternoon, there have been no arrests though police have indicated they are seeking a person of interest. That person, a female, is believed to be in her 30s.

The relative of the victim also said Dunkirk police have not been communicating with them. He noted the first time they had been in contact with the officers were around 10 a.m. Friday.

In the meantime, a video of the incident has been circulating through social media. The same relative pleaded with those who are circulating the video to stop. He said the family is hurting at the moment and that video is causing even more pain.

“It’s very upsetting,” he said, “but everyone (who is not talking) is able to post videos. We need justice to be served.”

The OBSERVER has taken the video photo down after requests by the family.

Right before a stabbing on Wednesday afternoon on Lincoln Avenue in Dunkirk, about 50 people knew something was going down. A crowd had gathered in anticipation of a confrontation.

In the video obtained by the OBSERVER this afternoon, one of the teens is running in the street and begins pummeling another female. This incident occurred in front of a blue home on the avenue.

Almost immediately, onlookers try to get between the two, who battled for 10 seconds. Punches were thrown and hair was being pulled. The total video is 20 seconds and may include the stabbing incident.

It does, however, give insight into the tensions that were evident in that neighborhood around 4 p.m. The alleged stabbing, which is believed to have been done by an older female possibly in her 30s, took place around 4:06 p.m. Numerous police agencies were called to the scene.

As of this afternoon, there was no sense of relief in the city. Some parents were said to have held their children out of school due to a threatening text sent out late Thursday or early today.

Calls to the Dunkirk superintendent’s office this afternoon were met with hostility. “That (stabbing) had nothing to do with the school. It happened a couple of days ago,” said the secretary who answered the phone indicating she would have the superintendent call the OBSERVER back.

Dunkirk police are continuing the investigation and as of Friday no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Anyone with information can call the Dunkirk Police Department at 366-2266 or they can leave an anonymous tip on the department’s tip line at 363-0313. All calls will be kept confidential.

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