On what should have been a joyous celebration of his 32nd birthday, Omar Hughley's life was tragically cut short in Rochester, New York. The male victim was shot and killed outside the Minq Lounge on West Main Street on April 24, 2022. He had been out with friends celebrating his birthday when the fatal encounter occurred. Investigations by the Rochester Police Department determined that Hughley had been robbed at gunpoint before he was shot in the upper chest.
The investigation led
police to identify Darrell Griffin, a 34-year-old man who was on parole at the time of the murder. Griffin was wearing an electronic ankle monitor as a condition of his parole for a prior weapon possession conviction. Following a thorough investigation, Griffin was arrested and charged with the robbery and murder of Omar Hughley.
In May 2023, a jury found Darrell Griffin guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, two counts of first-degree robbery, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Subsequently, in July 2023, a Monroe County judge sentenced Griffin to 25 years to life in the New York State Department of Corrections. Prosecutors highlighted that Griffin chose to violently end Hughley's life after robbing him, showing a disregard for human life and the law. The successful prosecution and life sentence were also attributed to the detailed police investigation and the cooperation of Omar's friends and family who came forward with information.
