NEW ROCHELLE, NY — The New Rochelle community marked the beginning of National Gun Violence Awareness Month with a successful gun buyback event, where 75 firearms were collected. The event took place today at Shiloh Baptist Church, organized by Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah and New Rochelle Police Department Commissioner Robert Gazzola.
Participants surrendered a variety of firearms including shotguns, handguns, and rifles, receiving a total of $13,750 in gift cards in a “no questions asked” exchange. The event was supported by local figures such as Shiloh Baptist Church’s Rev. Dr. H. Lee Jordan, Jr., volunteers from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and other community advocates.
DA Rocah expressed pride in the initiative, stating, “I am proud to kick off National Gun Violence Awareness Month by getting 75 firearms off our streets and out of potentially the wrong hands.” She thanked the New Rochelle Police Department, Shiloh Baptist Church, and community advocates for their roles in reducing gun-involved incidents, including suicides, through proactive measures like this buyback event.