In the early morning hours of a Tuesday in Rochester, New York, the life of 38-year-old Kevin Rigdon was tragically cut short. On November 21, 2023, what began as a verbal dispute outside the RTS Transit Center on St. Paul Street escalated into fatal violence. Rigdon, a male, was shot and killed in the encounter, which also left another man in his 40s wounded.
The incident unfolded around 8 a.m., disrupting the morning commute and leaving the community shaken.
Emergency responders arrived to a chaotic scene. Rigdon was found with at least one gunshot wound to his upper body. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of his injuries, which were not considered life-threatening. The area around the transit center was quickly cordoned off as police began their investigation into the city's 53rd homicide of the year.
The investigation swiftly led to a person of interest, who was taken into custody the same day as the shooting. This individual was later identified as Darius Gaskin, a 31-year-old man with a prior history as a registered sex offender. Witnesses and video evidence played a crucial role in his identification and subsequent arrest. The motive for the shooting appeared to stem from the initial argument, which took a deadly turn when a firearm was introduced.
Following his arrest, Darius Gaskin faced serious charges. A grand jury indicted him on several counts, including second-degree murder for the death of Kevin Rigdon and second-degree attempted murder for the shooting of the second victim. Additionally, he was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. As the legal proceedings began, Gaskin pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was held in custody as the case prepared to move through the criminal justice system, leaving a family to mourn the senseless loss of Kevin Rigdon.
