In the early morning hours of February 9, 2025, the life of 48-year-old Robert Prescott was tragically cut short in a parking lot on Thurston Road in Rochester, New York. Prescott, a father of five, was fatally shot in the torso following an altercation that began inside a nearby bar.
The dispute did not initially involve Prescott, but rather his friend and another man, later identified as 51-year-old Malcolm Bryant.
After all parties were removed from the establishment, Prescott and his friend were walking through the parking lot when Bryant approached them from behind and opened fire. Prescott was struck by the gunfire and rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
A swift and thorough investigation by the Rochester Police Department led to the arrest of Malcolm Bryant for the murder of Robert Prescott. Bryant was subsequently charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree, Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree. It was revealed that Bryant had a prior federal conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and a 2015 conviction for first-degree assault.
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, a Monroe County jury found Malcolm Bryant guilty on all counts related to the death of Robert Prescott and the attempted murder of the second man. The prosecution successfully argued that what started as a bar fight escalated due to a 'cold and calculated decision' by Bryant to follow the men and shoot at them. Bryant's sentencing was scheduled for November 14, 2025. The family of Robert Prescott, who remembered him as a fun-loving person who lit up any room he entered, faced his killer in court, seeking justice for their loss.
