On the afternoon of August 23, 2025, 68-year-old Gilberto Morales-Cruz was riding his bicycle alone down Smith Street in Rochester, New York, when his life was tragically cut short. At approximately 4:30 PM, he was shot multiple times in what authorities have described as a robbery involving two individuals. When police officers arrived at the scene near 435 Smith Street, they found Morales-Cruz unresponsive on the sidewalk.
Despite the immediate life-saving efforts of both the police and emergency medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation revealed that the suspects were not known to Morales-Cruz prior to the fatal encounter.
Following an investigation by the Major Crimes Homicide Detectives, two suspects were identified: 18-year-old Yasir Hall and 16-year-old Javeon Lopes, both residents of Rochester. On August 25, 2025, members of the Rochester Police Department's Tactical Unit and Special Investigations Section spotted Hall and Lopes in the vicinity of Child Street and Lyell Avenue. As officers approached, both suspects fled on foot but were apprehended after brief chases. At the time of their arrest, both were found to be in possession of loaded handguns.
A subsequent search warrant executed by a SWAT team uncovered additional evidence connected to the murder, including another handgun and an MP5 rifle. Both Hall and Lopes have been charged with Murder in the 2nd Degree, Robbery in the 1st Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree for their alleged roles in the death of Gilberto Morales-Cruz. They also face separate charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree for the handguns they possessed when they were arrested. Yasir Hall faces an additional charge of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 3rd Degree for fentanyl found on him at the time of his arrest. Hall was scheduled for arraignment in Rochester City Court, while Javeon Lopes was arraigned in Monroe County Youth Court and remanded to the Children's Detention Center. The case may be presented to a Monroe County Grand Jury for consideration of further charges against both suspects.
