In the summer of 2017, the life of 62-year-old Craig Dyer of Rochester, New York, was tragically cut short in a sudden act of violence. On July 19, 2017, while walking down Reynolds Street, Dyer was approached by a man who then shot him in the face. The brazen daytime attack left Dyer with critical injuries to which he would succumb four days later, on July 23, 2017. At the time of the incident, Dyer was reportedly pushing a shopping cart filled with cans and bottles he had been collecting.
Thanks to the quick response of the Rochester Police Department and the willingness of civilian witnesses to remain at the scene and cooperate with the investigation, an immediate arrest was made. The suspect was identified as 66-year-old Robert Jackson. Court documents alleged that Jackson used a revolver in the shooting. It was reported that the two men were known to each other, though the specific nature of their relationship was not publicly detailed.
In January 2018, Robert Jackson pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the 1st Degree for the death of Craig Dyer. The case was prosecuted by the Major Felony Bureau of the Monroe County District Attorney's Office. Following his guilty plea, Jackson was sentenced to 25 years in the New York State Department of Corrections, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision. The District Attorney's office expressed hope that the resolution of the case would bring a sense of healing to Craig Dyer's family and ensure that his attacker would no longer pose a threat to the community.
