In the late hours of an autumn evening in Rochester, New York, the life of 32-year-old Shalar Davy was tragically cut short. On October 5, 2023, just before midnight, police responded to reports of a man shot near the intersection of Portland Avenue and Norton Street. Upon arrival, they discovered Davy on the sidewalk, suffering from gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen.
He was rushed to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the senseless act of violence quickly identified two individuals, 17-year-old Jordan Torres and his accomplice, Eric Thomas. Investigators determined that the pair had approached another man in Davy's vicinity with the intention of robbing him. Armed with a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, Torres, and Thomas, who was carrying a long-rifle, brandished their weapons to execute the robbery. In a final act of bravery, Shalar Davy intervened to stop the robbery. It was then that Torres fired his weapon twice, striking Davy in the chest.
Following the shooting, both Torres and Thomas fled the scene with the stolen items, leaving Davy on the sidewalk. A thorough investigation by the Rochester Police Department led to the identification of the suspects. Torres had fled Monroe County and was apprehended in Mt. Vernon, New York, on October 13, 2023, with the assistance of the United States Marshals Task Force and the Westchester County Police Department. His accomplice, Eric Thomas, was located and arrested in Rochester five days later, on October 18, 2023.
In August 2024, Jordan Torres pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the 1st Degree for the fatal shooting of Shalar Davy. Eric Thomas also pleaded guilty for his role in the robbery that led to Davy's death. As a result of his plea, Torres was sentenced to 24 years in the New York State Department of Corrections, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision. The prosecution highlighted that Davy was a cherished son and brother, senselessly taken from a loving community just a month before he would have celebrated his 33rd birthday.
