In the late hours of a Sunday night in Rochester, New York, a senseless argument tragically cut short the life of 42-year-old Desmin Diggs. On March 21, 2022, Diggs was shot and killed on East Ridge Road, just west of North Clinton Avenue. The incident unfolded shortly after midnight in the parking lot of a business, where responding emergency personnel found him deceased.
The investigation into the death of the man known as 'Energy' quickly led authorities to a suspect.
Forty-six-year-old Shawn Appleberry of Rochester was identified as the individual who shot Diggs. The two men reportedly had no prior relationship before the fatal encounter, which escalated from a verbal dispute. Appleberry was arrested shortly after the shooting, having attempted to conceal the murder weapon.
Shawn Appleberry was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. His case proceeded through the legal system, and in November, a jury found him guilty of the charges. Following his conviction, there was a delay in his sentencing due to allegations of juror misconduct. However, on June 4, 2024, justice was served when a New York State Supreme Court Justice sentenced Appleberry to 20 years to life in prison for the murder of Desmin Diggs.
