In first week of July, Rochester has exceeded its yearly homicide average

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — For the last decade, the Rochester Police Department has handled an average of 33 murders a year. It’s the first week of July, and Rochester has already exceeded the yearly average for homicides.

A Rochester man was murdered Monday morning, and with the death of a teen from an incident over the weekend, that brings the number up to 38. Halfway through the year and the city is close to 40 murders, making it the most they’ve had yearly in decades.

The Rochester Police Department says they arrested 36-year-old Evan Guzman of Rochester Monday after they say he allegedly stabbed Ted Morris, 52, to death on Resolute Circle near Irondequoit.

Guzman is a registered Level 2 sex offender and has three prior felony convictions. Police say Guzman and Morris likely knew each other, but won’t say how. They will say that’s not the first time they’ve responded to the violence in that area.

"We have been here in the past, I’ve had a few jobs here over the years but it’s not a constant drain on resources with officers coming up here to address things,” Capt. Frank Umbrino said Monday.

What is wearing on police resources is the major uptick in violence that hasn’t let up. The city has seen two murders in two days. Resolute Circle and a 16-year-old who died from injuries he sustained during after a shooting early Sunday morning. Police are still searching for a suspect.

As of Monday night, police have not released a motive for Guzman. He is due back in court Tuesday morning.