ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Three police officers were hospitalized following a shooting incident on Chili Avenue late Friday night while responding to a domestic disturbance. Rochester Police Department (RPD) Chief David Smith provided a briefing Saturday morning about the event, which took place around 10:15 p.m. Officers were dispatched after a caller, the current boyfriend of a woman whose ex-partner had reportedly broken into her home, indicated that he was armed with a legally owned firearm.
Upon arrival, officers located the suspect on the side of the house, where gunfire quickly erupted. Chief Smith stated that the suspect brandished a firearm and began shooting at both the officers and the victim. Officers returned fire, and the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The suspect fled the scene but was quickly apprehended near Arnett Boulevard and Thurston Road. As officers attempted to detain him, the suspect again opened fire, prompting an officer to return fire, resulting in the suspect’s death at the scene.
In terms of injuries, the three officers were reported as follows:
– Officer 1 is in stable condition, having sustained multiple non-life-threatening gunshot wounds, which Chief Smith attributed to the effectiveness of their ballistic vest.
– Officer 2 is in critical condition after sustaining upper body injuries and has undergone surgery at Strong Memorial Hospital.
– Officer 3 is also in stable condition with serious injuries incurred at the intersection of Arnett Boulevard and Thurston Road.
The shooting victim remains in serious but non-life-threatening condition.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing, with additional inquiries being conducted by the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, New York State Attorney General’s Office, and the Professional Standards Section. RPD also announced that body-worn camera footage from the incident will be released, though the timeline for this release has not yet been determined.
Witnesses in the area described a chaotic scene, with one neighbor reporting hearing multiple gunshots followed by numerous police vehicles responding to the area. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans expressed concern over the incident, emphasizing the community’s need for support and prayers for the wounded officers during this challenging time.
This shooting incident marks the fourth officer-involved shooting in Rochester this year, highlighting ongoing concerns for officer safety and community responses to domestic violence situations. As this story develops, further updates will be provided.