In the early hours of May 6, 2024, the streets of Rochester, New York, were shattered by gunfire that claimed the life of 43-year-old Timothy Chealey. The male victim was discovered on a porch at the intersection of Rialto and Hollenbeck Streets around 1 a.m. with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Alongside him, another victim, 46-year-old Shatina Jones of Buffalo, was also found with gunshot wounds; she was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly
after. A third individual, a man in his 20s, also sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident.
Investigations into the double homicide revealed that the shooting was preceded by an altercation earlier that evening at a concert at the Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester. Following the concert, a group of people involved in the dispute had gathered on Rialto Street. It was there that 23-year-old Jermaine Williams allegedly approached and fired more than a dozen shots into the group, tragically ending the lives of Chealey and Jones. The shooting was described by authorities as a targeted attack.
Following an intense investigation, Jermaine Williams was identified as the suspect. On May 31, 2024, he was located and apprehended in Niagara Falls by the U.S. Marshals Violent Felony Fugitive Task Force. Williams was transported back to Rochester and subsequently charged with two counts of second-degree murder. He was arraigned in Rochester City Court on June 1, where he pleaded not guilty. The court proceedings were marked by a physical altercation that broke out between the families of the victims and the defendant, leading to two arrests for disorderly conduct. Williams was remanded without bail, and prosecutors indicated that additional charges could be considered by a grand jury.
