In the early hours of a Saturday morning in Rochester, New York, a house party on Woodward Street turned into a scene of violence and tragedy. On September 12, 2015, Herbert Thomas Jr., a 34-year-old man, was among the attendees at the gathering. The party, filled with dozens of people, abruptly ended when a dispute escalated into gunfire. In the chaotic exchange of bullets that followed, Herbert Thomas Jr. and another man, 36-year-old John Rudolph, were fatally wounded.
Several other partygoers were also injured in the crossfire.
The Rochester Police Department quickly launched an investigation into the deadly shooting. Their efforts led to the identification and arrest of a suspect, 30-year-old William James of Rochester. Investigators determined that an altercation between James and John Rudolph had precipitated the shootout. During the incident, James himself sustained a leg injury. He was subsequently charged in connection with the violence that erupted at the party.
Following his arrest, William James faced legal proceedings for his role in the tragic events. In September 2016, he reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. James pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter for the death of John Rudolph. The investigation concluded that both James and Rudolph had exchanged gunfire during the party. For his part in the incident that resulted in the deaths of two men and the injury of others, William James was sentenced to 18 years in state prison.
