In the late summer of 2023, an argument between two men who knew each other escalated into a fatal encounter on a Rochester street. On the evening of August 20, 2023, gunshots echoed in the vicinity of North Plymouth Avenue and Ambrose Street. When Rochester Police Officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Alec Rouse lying in the street, suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. He was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal.
An intensive investigation by the Rochester Police Department's Major Crimes Unit led them to identify 28-year-old Brandon Hall as the individual responsible for the shooting. Following the investigation, a warrant was issued for his arrest. On January 11, 2024, members of the United States Marshals Task Force located and apprehended Brandon Hall. The motive for the shooting was determined to be an argument between Hall and Rouse that spiraled out of control.
Faced with the evidence against him, Brandon Hall pleaded guilty to a charge of Manslaughter in the 1st Degree on July 8, 2024. The plea was part of an agreement for his role in the death of Alec Rouse. Assistant District Attorney Gregory Clark, Chief of the Public Integrity/Economic Crimes Bureau, prosecuted the case. Clark noted that the senseless act of violence was entirely avoidable and thanked the numerous witnesses who came forward with information that aided the investigation.
On August 8, 2024, Brandon Hall appeared before New York State Supreme Court Justice Argento for sentencing. In accordance with his guilty plea, Hall was sentenced to 20 years in the New York State Department of Corrections. Following his release from prison, he will be subject to 5 years of post-release supervision. The resolution of the case brought a measure of closure to the family and loved ones of Alec Rouse, who was remembered as a father and a coach.
