"Lessons from Homicides: The Buffalo Story" Premiers Oct. 19

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Since 2000, there have been more than 400 homicides in the city of Buffalo and every murder has produced many victims, including family members, friends and neighbors.

In fact, on Buffalo's East Side alone, it is hard to find anyone who hasn't known someone killed or injured in a homicidal attack.

"Lessons from Homicides: The Buffalo Story," a new documentary that explores the lessons learned by individuals, families, communities and organizations with direct experience of those homicides, will premiere at the Buffalo Museum of Science, 1020 Humboldt Parkway at 6 p.m. Oct. 19.

Additional public screenings will take place at the Market Arcade Theatre, 639 Main St., on Oct. 19 at 8 p.m., Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. and Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. Tickets for those screenings are $10 and can be obtained in the Market Arcade box office or at Doris Records, 286 E. Ferry St.

The producer and director of the documentary is Peter K.B. St. Jean, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology at the University at Buffalo. He is also CEO of Quality of Life Associates, Inc., the parent company of the not-for-profit community-based Quality of Life Films and Productions, Inc.

"The documentary catalogues a variety of homicide-related events and reactions," he says, "and suggests educational tools and motivational factors that can assist efforts aimed at violence reduction and improved quality of life in Buffalo and elsewhere."

St. Jean is a noted criminology researcher and the author of a number of journal articles on urban crime and two books, most recently, "Pockets of Crime' (University of Chicago Press, 2007). He will address the audience and open the floor to discussion following the premier screening.

The screening itself will follow a 5:30 p.m. press conference presented by the St. Jean organizations and P.E.A.C.E. (Parents Encouraging Accountability and Closure for Everyone), which will offer the press an opportunity to ask questions of the organizers, families, loved ones and community leaders.