In the summer of 2022, a violent turf war raging in Rochester, New York, claimed the life of 25-year-old Myjel Rand. On the night of July 19th, the area around North Clinton Avenue and Rauber Street was rocked by gunfire. The following day, in the early morning hours of July 20th, the violence escalated. It was then that Myjel Rand, along with Richard Collinge and Tireek Burden, were gunned down in the same vicinity.
When Rochester Police Officers responded to the scene, they found a
chaotic and tragic situation. Richard Collinge was pronounced dead at the scene. Myjel Rand and Tireek Burden were rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, but Rand succumbed to his gunshot wounds. Burden was the sole survivor of the brutal attack. The violence of that night was not isolated, as a car connected to the incident was later found engulfed in flames on Weyl Street, a fire that threatened a nearby home.
The investigation into the shootings and arson led to the identification and arrest of three men: Raheim Robinson, Deadrick Fulwiley, and Kelvin Vickers. Investigators determined that all three were responsible for the murders of Rand and Collinge, the attempted murder of Burden, and the arson. Their actions were part of a violent dispute over drug territory.
The legal proceedings that followed brought a measure of justice for the victims and their families. Deadrick Fulwiley pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder in the 2nd Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree. He received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison. Raheim Robinson was convicted by a jury on multiple charges, including four counts of Murder in the 1st Degree. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Kelvin Vickers was also convicted for his role in the murders of Rand and Collinge, as well as the murder of Rochester Police Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz, which occurred during the course of the investigation. Vickers was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.
