In the early evening of September 24, 2018, a Rochester Police Officer on patrol discovered the wounded body of 22-year-old Anthony Lawson on Lyell Avenue, near Child Street. He had been shot multiple times. First aid was administered at the scene, and he was then rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, but the efforts to save him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at 7:30 p.m.
The subsequent investigation by the Rochester Police Department led to the arrests of two teenagers,
David Johnson and Nashiem Burton. The motive for the shooting was determined to be a robbery that took a violent turn. At the time of the incident, Johnson was already on probation for a prior robbery conviction, highlighting a troubled history with the law.
In the legal proceedings that followed, both Johnson and Burton faced the consequences of their actions. David Johnson, who was identified as the shooter, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree and robbery in the first degree. On May 31, 2019, he was sentenced to 30 years in the New York State Department of Corrections. His accomplice, Nashiem Burton, also pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
