On a late summer evening in Rochester, New York, the life of 20-year-old Tymir Michael Thomas was tragically cut short. On September 11, 2021, police responded to a call of a person shot on Handy Street. Arriving at the scene, they discovered Thomas inside a vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds to his lower body. He was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries.
An investigation into the shooting led Rochester police to identify three suspects in the murder of
Tymir Thomas. On December 1, 2021, Anttwan Brown, then 18, Tyron Bryant, 30, and Diamonte Scott, 19, were arrested and charged in connection with his death. The community was left to grapple with the senseless violence that took a young man with a future ahead of him. Thomas was remembered by loved ones as an outgoing and free-spirited individual who loved to draw and tell jokes. He had aspirations of becoming a music producer.
The legal process culminated in a trial where all three men faced charges of second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. In January 2023, a jury found Anttwan Brown, Tyron Bryant, and Diamonte Scott guilty on all counts. In March of the same year, the sentences were handed down. Anttwan Brown received a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. Tyron Bryant and Diamonte Scott were each sentenced to 22 years to life. The convictions and sentencings brought a measure of justice to the family of Tymir Thomas, though their loss remains immeasurable.
