In the early hours of a March morning in Rochester, New York, the lives of two families were irrevocably altered. On March 13, 2022, Charles Lee Robinson, a 31-year-old man, was out for a drink on State Street with his childhood friend, Lonnie Keys Jr. In an act of sudden violence, both men were shot and killed in a double homicide that sent shockwaves through their community.
Robinson was a father to two young daughters and was described by his loved ones as a good man who was widely loved.
The grief of losing their only sons brought the two fathers, Charles Lee Robinson Jr. and Lonnie Keys, who were themselves friends from childhood, together in a public plea for peace. They spoke out against the senseless violence that had taken their children, highlighting the devastating impact on their families and the community at large. Their message was one of unity and a call to end the cycle of violence that was claiming the lives of young people in their city.
For six months, the families waited for answers. Then, a breakthrough in the investigation brought a measure of hope. Two men were arrested and faced murder charges in connection with the deaths of Charles Robinson and Lonnie Keys. The suspects also had unrelated pending gun charges. The families expressed their gratitude for the diligence of the Rochester Police Department, seeing the arrests as a crucial step towards achieving justice for their sons. The case was slated to be presented to a Monroe County Grand Jury, with a preliminary hearing to follow.
