In the late hours of a Tuesday night in Rochester, New York, a burst of violence cut a man's life short. On June 25, 2024, 39-year-old Leroy Bethel, a Black male, drove to Weigel Alley, a narrow street on the city's northeast side. It was there, near the intersection with Barons Street, that his journey would come to a tragic and abrupt end. At approximately 11 p.m., as he stepped out of his vehicle, he was struck by a gunshot to his torso.
First responders arrived to a grim scene.
Bethel was found clinging to life and was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital for emergency medical treatment. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his severe injuries in the early morning hours of June 26. The initial police investigation into the shooting suggested that the motive for Bethel's presence in the alley was to purchase marijuana.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement conducted searches in the vicinity of the crime scene. Their efforts led them to a residence on Barons Street, where they uncovered a significant quantity of marijuana, packaged for sale, along with a sum of cash. However, this discovery did not lead to an immediate breakthrough in identifying the person or persons responsible for Bethel's death.
The Rochester Police Department's Major Crimes Unit is actively investigating the homicide. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and authorities have not publicly named any suspects. The investigation remains open, and police have appealed to the public for any information that might lead to an arrest and bring closure to the case.
