On a tragic afternoon in Rochester, New York, 15-year-old Suade McKnight, a Black male, was fatally shot on February 23, 2023. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. inside a residence on Alphonse Street, a location known to authorities as a drug house. It is believed that multiple individuals entered the house with the intention of committing a robbery. During the commission of the crime, McKnight was shot in the upper body and was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was a student in the Rochester City School District.
The investigation into the homicide led police to a potential suspect in a remarkably short amount of time. About 15 minutes after the shooting of McKnight, authorities found 18-year-old Brandon Williams on Remington Street, not far from the scene of the murder, suffering from a gunshot wound of his own. Williams, who was 17 at the time of the incident, was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
After gathering and presenting new evidence to a grand jury, investigators were able to identify Williams as a suspect in the death of Suade McKnight. In September 2023, he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. A judge later ruled that due to his age at the time of the offense, Williams would be tried as a juvenile. Law enforcement officials have indicated that the investigation into McKnight's death is ongoing and that further arrests may be made in the case as they continue to look into the matter.
