ThisIsRochester.com: Crime

Body of missing man found in city

July 16, 2019 -- Rochester Police said the body of a man found on Lake View Park over the weekend was that of Samuel Ortiz, 39, who was last seen in Rochester on July 6.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office discovered a blue Chevy Equinox belonging to Ortiz on fire in Brandon, Fla., last week. Rochester Police found Ortiz's body in a garage in a vacant house on Lake View Park and said it had been there for several days.

Police make arrest in city's 20th homicide investigation of 2019

July 13, 2019 -- Rochester police charged Tiquane Pratt, 27, with second-degree murder hours after Jason Wilder was found beaten near the intersection of Clifford Avenue and North Goodman Street around 8:30 p.m.

Officers called to the scence found Wilder, 39, unconscious in the street. He was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

According to Rochester Police Department data, nine people have been slain since the start of June. To date, there have been 20 homicides in Rochester in 2019.

Body found in garage of vacant city home

July 13, 2019 -- Rochester police are investigating a suspicious death on the city's west side after a body was found in the garage of a vacant home.

A maintenance worker called 911 after finding a body in a detached garage at 63 Lake View Park, off Lake Avenue.

The body was turned over to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office to determine a cause of death and an identity, police investigators said. Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Schwartz was also at the scene.

Shooting victim is city's fourth homicide in five days

July 10, 2019 -- A man was shot and killed on the city's east side, marking Rochester's fourth homicide in five days.

Rochester Police responded to Hudson Avenue and Ernst Street for the report of gunfire around 8 p.m. As officers arrived, they discovered that a male victim had been taken by private vehicle to Rochester General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Woman arrested in Brookdale Avenue slaying

July 10, 2019 -- Police identified the city man shot and killed on Brookdale Avenue early Tuesday morning and also announced the woman charged in his death.

Police allege Martha Jones, 28, of Rochester shot and killed Micah Welch, 34, shortly after 2 a.m. Jones is charged with second-degree murder and will be arraigned in Rochester City Court.

Police were called to Brookdale Avenue, near Brooks Avenue, shortly after 2 a.m. to investigate a shooting. They found Welch deceased outside with at least one gunshot wound to his lower body and briefly surrounded a home that tuend out to be unoccupied, investigators said.

43-year-old man fatally shot on Backus Street

July 8, 2019 -- A 43-year-old man found shortly before midnight with gunshots to his body died at a Rochester hospital, police said.

The victim was identified as Salim Flowers of Rochester.

Rochester Police Department officers responded to reports of shots heard on Backus Street at approximately 11:30 p.m.

Local media report this as the city's 17th homicides of the year. Previous reported incidents we're documented include:

July 7 -- Devin Perryman, 26, Clairmount Street.
June 30 -- Alton Carelock, 31, Portland Avenue and Mohawk Street.
June 26 -- Zechariah Burnett, 35, Fifth Street.
June 10 -- Deandre Jenkins, 19, Fourth Street.
May 28 -- Ricky Desantis, 38, Wellington Avenue and Kirkland Street.
May 26 -- Unidentified female, 30, Orchard Street.
May 19 -- Durron Williams, 38, Wilkins Street.
May 15 -- Eric Lofton, 50, Renwood Street.
May 5 -- Rayquan Jones, 18, Maryland Street.
May 4 -- Jalen Everett, 24, Deway and Electric Avenues.
April 6 -- Cherylann Jackson, 23, North Clinton Aveneue.
Feb. 9 -- Caebeon Lee, 21, Webster Avenue and Shafer Street.
Jan. 4 -- Chaunte Turner, 29, South Plymouth Avenue.
Jan. 1 -- Arthur Stevens, 30, Stout Street.

Shooting victim on Clairmount Street dies

July 7, 2019 -- The Rochester Police Department is investigating a fatal early-morning shooting on the 200 block of Clairmount Street.

Police said Devin Perryman, 26, of Rochester had been shot at least once and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Fire at old Rochester Psych Center ruled arson

July 6, 2019 -- The Rochester Fire Department called multiple alarms after two of seven trespassers became trapped by smoke and flames and were forced to call 911 from the roof of the former Rochester Psych Center on Elmwood Avenue.

The fire was ruled an arson. Investigators said the blaze started on the first floor.

Approximately 60 firefighters from multiple companies were on the scene and were hindered by the lack of lights, elevators and a ventilation system. Crews worked through the night to sweep through every floor.

Crews from multiple suburban fire districts were called on to man city fire stations.

Brawl erupts at post-wedding party

July 6, 2019, -- One person was taken to an area hospital after a fracas outside of the Diplomat Party House in Gates, police said.

Gates Police Chief James VanBrederode said the venue had been reserved for a post-wedding party and a brawl broke out around 11:30 p.m. in the parking lot. One person was reported to have a gun, and one victim was transported to Highland Hospital after possibly having been pistol-whipped.

As many as 200 people may have been involved in the incident, VanBrederode said. No arrests were made at the scene.

The Rochester Police Department and Monroe County Sheriff's Office aided Gates Police.

Suspect in fatal stabbing ruled incompetent

July 2, 2019 -- The man accused of stabbing a Rochester woman to death April 6 has been declared not competent to stand trial.

Monroe County Supreme Court Jutice Judith Sinclair ruled that Ronald Pilgrim would need to undergo mental health treatment for one year before being evaluated again on whether he can stand trial.

Pilgrim was previously indicted on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Cherylann Jackson, 23, in an apartment on North Clinton Avenue. Jackson was stabbed multiple times in the chest and back, police said.

While leaving his arraignment in April, Pilgrim turned to the victim's family and said "Wait, wait, I did it."

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	A summary of noteworthy crime news in Greater Rochester
	More from 2019 Body of missing man found in city July 16, 2019 -- Rochester Police said the body of a man found on Lake View Park over the weekend was that of Samuel Ortiz, 39, who was last seen in Rochester on July 6. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office discovered a blue Chevy Equinox belonging to Ortiz on fire in Brandon, Fla., last week. Rochester Police found Ortiz's body in a garage in a vacant house on Lake View Park and said it had been there for several days. Police make arrest in city's 20th homicide investigation of 2019 July 13, 2019 -- Rochester police charged Tiquane Pratt, 27, with second-degree murder hours after Jason Wilder was found beaten near the intersection of Clifford Avenue and North Goodman Street around 8:30 p.m. Officers called to the scence found Wilder, 39, unconscious in the street. He was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he later died. According to Rochester Police Department data, nine people have been slain since the start of June. To date, there have been 20 homicides in Rochester in 2019. Body found in garage of vacant city home July 13, 2019 -- Rochester police are investigating a suspicious death on the city's west side after a body was found in the garage of a vacant home. A maintenance worker called 911 after finding a body in a detached garage at 63 Lake View Park, off Lake Avenue. The body was turned over to the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office to determine a cause of death and an identity, police investigators said. Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Matthew Schwartz was also at the scene. Shooting victim is city's fourth homicide in five days July 10, 2019 -- A man was shot and killed on the city's east side, marking Rochester's fourth homicide in five days. Rochester Police responded to Hudson Avenue and Ernst Street for the report of gunfire around 8 p.m. As officers arrived, they discovered that a male victim had been taken by private vehicle to Rochester General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Woman arrested in Brookdale Avenue slaying July 10, 2019 -- Police identified the city man shot and killed on Brookdale Avenue early Tuesday morning and also announced the woman charged in his death. Police allege Martha Jones, 28, of Rochester shot and killed Micah Welch, 34, shortly after 2 a.m. Jones is charged with second-degree murder and will be arraigned in Rochester City Court. Police were called to Brookdale Avenue, near Brooks Avenue, shortly after 2 a.m. to investigate a shooting. They found Welch deceased outside with at least one gunshot wound to his lower body and briefly surrounded a home that tuend out to be unoccupied, investigators said. 43-year-old man fatally shot on Backus Street July 8, 2019 -- A 43-year-old man found shortly before midnight with gunshots to his body died at a Rochester hospital, police said. The victim was identified as Salim Flowers of Rochester. Rochester Police Department officers responded to reports of shots heard on Backus Street at approximately 11:30 p.m. Local media report this as the city's 17th homicides of the year. Previous reported incidents we're documented include: July 7 -- Devin Perryman, 26, Clairmount Street. June 30 -- Alton Carelock, 31, Portland Avenue and Mohawk Street. June 26 -- Zechariah Burnett, 35, Fifth Street. June 10 -- Deandre Jenkins, 19, Fourth Street. May 28 -- Ricky Desantis, 38, Wellington Avenue and Kirkland Street. May 26 -- Unidentified female, 30, Orchard Street. May 19 -- Durron Williams, 38, Wilkins Street. May 15 -- Eric Lofton, 50, Renwood Street. May 5 -- Rayquan Jones, 18, Maryland Street. May 4 -- Jalen Everett, 24, Deway and Electric Avenues. April 6 -- Cherylann Jackson, 23, North Clinton Aveneue. Feb. 9 -- Caebeon Lee, 21, Webster Avenue and Shafer Street. Jan. 4 -- Chaunte Turner, 29, South Plymouth Avenue. Jan. 1 -- Arthur Stevens, 30, Stout Street. Shooting victim on Clairmount Street dies July 7, 2019 -- The Rochester Police Department is investigating a fatal early-morning shooting on the 200 block of Clairmount Street. Police said Devin Perryman, 26, of Rochester had been shot at least once and was pronounced dead at the scene. Fire at old Rochester Psych Center ruled arson July 6, 2019 -- The Rochester Fire Department called multiple alarms after two of seven trespassers became trapped by smoke and flames and were forced to call 911 from the roof of the former Rochester Psych Center on Elmwood Avenue. The fire was ruled an arson. Investigators said the blaze started on the first floor. Approximately 60 firefighters from multiple companies were on the scene and were hindered by the lack of lights, elevators and a ventilation system. Crews worked through the night to sweep through every floor. Crews from multiple suburban fire districts were called on to man city fire stations. Brawl erupts at post-wedding party July 6, 2019, -- One person was taken to an area hospital after a fracas outside of the Diplomat Party House in Gates, police said. Gates Police Chief James VanBrederode said the venue had been reserved for a post-wedding party and a brawl broke out around 11:30 p.m. in the parking lot. One person was reported to have a gun, and one victim was transported to Highland Hospital after possibly having been pistol-whipped. As many as 200 people may have been involved in the incident, VanBrederode said. No arrests were made at the scene. The Rochester Police Department and Monroe County Sheriff's Office aided Gates Police. Suspect in fatal stabbing ruled incompetent July 2, 2019 -- The man accused of stabbing a Rochester woman to death April 6 has been declared not competent to stand trial. Monroe County Supreme Court Jutice Judith Sinclair ruled that Ronald Pilgrim would need to undergo mental health treatment for one year before being evaluated again on whether he can stand trial. Pilgrim was previously indicted on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Cherylann Jackson, 23, in an apartment on North Clinton Avenue. Jackson was stabbed multiple times in the chest and back, police said. While leaving his arraignment in April, Pilgrim turned to the victim's family and said "Wait, wait, I did it." [ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]