In the early morning hours of July 30, 2022, the life of 42-year-old Kailee White Sr., a Black male from Rochester, New York, was tragically cut short. White was discovered inside his vehicle on Jay Street, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound to his upper body. Rochester Police Department officers responded to a call around 7:10 a.m. and found him unconscious.
Despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, marking the city's 45th homicide of the year.
The investigation into White's death revealed a senseless act of violence stemming from an attempted robbery. Authorities determined that White was not known to his assailants and did not resist their attempts to rob him. The events leading to his death were allegedly orchestrated by three individuals. According to police, 18-year-old India Barr-Blount lured White into stopping his vehicle. Subsequently, 18-year-old Tyrone Sanders and 19-year-old Jeyzon Cotton approached the car. During the course of the robbery attempt, it is alleged that Cotton shot White in the head.
On March 24, 2023, the Rochester Police Department announced the arrests of Barr-Blount, Sanders, and Cotton in connection with the murder of Kailee White Sr. All three faced charges of second-degree murder, attempted robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon. Due to their ages at the time of the crime, Sanders and Barr-Blount, who were 17, were arraigned in youth court before being remanded to the Rush Juvenile Detention Center. Cotton was scheduled for arraignment in the city court. The arrests brought a significant development in a case that had left the community seeking answers.
