East High provides support for students grieving after killing of 16-year-old

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Police said that Jaquise Davis is the name of the 16-year-old boy who was fatally shot on Pennsylvania Avenue and Fourth Street.

Davis was a sophomore at East High School. Counselors will be at the school on Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to support students who are grieving the death of Davis.

The shooting, just blocks away from the Rochester Public Market, happened on Monday night.

First responders tried to save Davis’s life when they arrived at around 10:45 p.m. Rochester police said they were investigating a non-fatal shooting on North Street when they got the call for the 16-year-old shot and rushed to the scene. An ambulance took Davis to Strong Hospital, where he died.

The school sent out the following statement:

Dear East families and staff.

The East community is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Jaquise Davis, a sophomore at East. While all the details are still coming together, our hearts break as we mourn with the family, friends, and the community.

A young life has been tragically cut short by gun violence. Once again, we find ourselves asking for answers not only as a school but as a community. Gun violence is never a reasonable response to conflict. In the upcoming year, we will continue to teach and reinforce restorative practices to ensure safety in our schools and throughout the Rochester community.

During this time, as the school community processes this tragic news and copes with this unimaginable loss, please note that the Trauma Response Team will be available in the Collaboratorium tomorrow, August 10, from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. to provide support to students and staff regarding last night’s tragedy. Please reach out if any additional support is needed by calling (585) 324-3651. We will make sure you get the help you need.

Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with the Davis family and Jaquise’s friends and classmates in the difficult days ahead.
With peace and love,

Shaun Nelms, EdD

Davis lived on Pennsylvania Avenue. Investigators won’t say if the boy was shot inside or outside a home. RPD Capt. Steven Swetman said an investigation is ongoing and officers’ thoughts are with the victim’s family.

“This is gonna be an investigation that’s going to be handled by our major crimes unit at this point. If anybody has any information pertaining to this job, they are asked to call 911. The circumstances behind it right now are unknown.”

So far this year, 27 of the shooting victims in Rochester have been under the age of 18. Those numbers are according to the RPD open data portal. Five of those victims died of their injuries, including Davis.

On Sunday, a 16-year-old boy was shot on Merrimac Street and survived.

No suspects are in custody and anyone with information is asked to call 911.