In the city of Rochester, New York, Chernet Tiruneh was known as a cherished member of the community who had come to the United States and worked tirelessly for his family. His life was brought to a sudden and tragic end on April 28, 2020, inside Chappa's Groceries, where he was working as a clerk. That day, a man named Alexander Laureano entered the store with the intent to rob it. Laureano, who was 29 years old at the time, brandished a gun and held Mr.
Tiruneh at gunpoint, demanding money from the cash register.
Faced with a life-or-death situation, Chernet Tiruneh reached for his own legally registered firearm in an attempt to defend himself. Before he could protect himself, Laureano fired his weapon, fatally wounding the store clerk. When Rochester Police Officers responded to reports of a man shot, they found Mr. Tiruneh deceased at the scene. His death was a profound loss to those who knew him and the community he served. The incident sparked a thorough and detailed investigation by the Rochester Police Department, which spent the next several months piecing together the events that led to the senseless killing.
For eleven months, the case remained unsolved, but with the help of the community, investigators were able to identify Alexander Laureano as the primary suspect. In March 2021, he was arrested and charged with the murder and attempted robbery of Chernet Tiruneh. The case proceeded to trial, where a jury convicted Laureano of Murder in the 2nd Degree, Manslaughter in the 1st Degree, and multiple counts of Attempted Robbery. On May 23, 2022, a New York State Supreme Court Justice sentenced Laureano to the maximum penalty of 25 years to life in prison. The sentencing brought a measure of solace to Mr. Tiruneh's family and the community, knowing that the man responsible for his brutal and untimely death had been brought to justice.
