SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- “One less gun on the street is one less person that can possibly be killed,” said Pastor Ted Ward.

That's the idea behind Schenectady's gun buyback program, but for one mother, the idea came too late.

“My son was a peace maker and he died. He got shot in the head two weeks ago for what?” said Shawna Duboise, mother of Jerome Cannon.

Duboise is still trying to come to grips with the death of her son Jerome Cannon and police have very few leads in the case.

“It takes a coward to kill somebody in cold blood like that and it takes an even bigger coward not to even come forward when you've seen it,” Duboise said.

That's why organizers are hoping Schenectady's buyback program will have the same success as Albany's and they're getting support from Pastor Charlie Muller who started that program. It offers the same reward of a $150 gift card to Crossgates Mall for every gun brought in, a reward police hope will encourage people to come forward and help put an end to the violence.

“Without the weapon, you don't have young people making bad decisions,” said Schenectady Public Safety Commissioner Wayne Bennett.

“We want the gun violence to stop. We are determined to do whatever we need to do,” said Reverend Willie Bacote.

With one gun already turned in, organizers are hoping more people speak up.

“Every day I wake up angry because I'm hearing ‘I hear,’ ‘I know.’ Well if you hear and you know so much, then come on forward and speak up,” Duboise said.

“That's the most important thing. Stepping up and doing the right thing,” said Schenectady Police Chief Mark Chaires.