In the city of Rochester, New York, a community was left to grapple with the sudden and violent death of one of its own. Ali Saleh, a 30-year-old man of Yemeni descent, was a familiar and beloved face to many who frequented the Sana'a Food Market on Clifford Avenue. Known for his kindness and generosity, he was a man who, according to friends and customers, would always look out for those in his community. He had recently returned from a year-long trip overseas to visit loved ones.
Saleh and his wife had a three-year-old daughter, a child they had welcomed after eight years of trying.
On a Sunday in March, while Saleh was working behind the counter of the corner store, a man entered the market and tragically cut his life short. The assailant, later identified as Tony Brown, walked directly up to the counter and shot Saleh multiple times at close range. Saleh was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The brazen act of violence, which investigators believe was captured on surveillance footage, sent shockwaves through the neighborhood. In the days that followed, the storefront became a memorial, with community members leaving balloons and candles to honor a man they described as a friend to all.
The Rochester Police Department launched an immediate and intensive investigation into the homicide. Their efforts quickly led them to a suspect. Within 24 hours of the shooting, police arrested 42-year-old Tony Brown. He was taken into custody while driving the vehicle used to flee the scene, and authorities recovered a handgun and other evidence linking him to the crime. Investigators believe the motive for the killing was retaliation for an altercation that had occurred at the store several days prior, an incident that involved an associate of Saleh's, though Saleh himself was reportedly not involved.
Tony Brown was initially charged with second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. In court, dozens of Saleh's family and friends gathered, seeking justice for their loss. Initially, Brown pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, in October, then 48-year-old Brown accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter. In December, a judge sentenced Tony Brown to 23 years in prison for the killing of Ali Saleh. His sentence also includes five years of post-release supervision.
