Rochester Mayor Malik Evans issued a statement early Friday after a shooting incident in the city resulted in the death of a police officer and injured his partner.

“Tonight, there were two Rochester Police officers shot; one is critically wounded. We are sending our strongest prayers that he survives his injuries,” Evans said in the statement.

“The tragic gun violence in Rochester must come to an end. Today, we declared a gun violence emergency in our community and this shooting is proof that we are indeed, in an emergency.

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“Our police officers are out there sacrificing their lives for us every day. They perform their jobs in dangerous conditions as we go about our daily lives and we owe them a great debt of gratitude.”

Evans shared his condolences for the families of the victims involved in the shooting.

On Thursday night, a gunman opened fire at two on-duty police officers in the area of Bauman Street. Authorities said that 

A Rochester police officer was fatally shot and another injured after a gunman opened fire on them on Thursday night, according to a local NBC affiliate that cited sources.

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Police Chief Dave Smith identified the deceased officer as Anthony Mazurkiewicz, a 29-year-old veteran of the force. Officer Sino Seng was shot in the lower body and treated at Rochester General Hospital. He has since been released.

Smith called the deadly shooting a “cowardly ambush,” and said Mazurkiewicz and Seng “fell victim to the very violence in our community that we are trying to combat.”

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Authorities said that the police ambushed the gunman. However, no other details have been revealed about the identity of the gunman or the motive behind the shooting.