RPD releases more details on armed robbery suspect shot and killed by police

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Rochester Police Thursday released more details about what happened inside of a Family Dollar store on West Main Street Wednesday night that led to an officer shooting and killing an armed robbery suspect.

Police have since ended their initial investigation at the store, which remains closed to shoppers. Although Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan will not release the suspect’s name, she did tell us that he’s also a suspect in three recent murders.

Herriott-Sullivan confirmed that officers were first alerted of a serious situation at the store located at 715 W. Main St. An employee called them from inside the store.

"They did call 9-1-1, we were able to at least determine that a manager was being held at gunpoint, and there was some sort of robbery in progress," Herriott-Sullivan said.

She says video from police body-worn cameras showed that employees and a few customers were still inside and when police encountered the suspect, he took off running.

"There was a chase that ensued within the store. Shots were fired, and as you know the subject was declared dead at the scene," Herriott-Sullivan said.

She said the incident from the moment police arrived until the shooting ended lasted less than a minute. No one else was injured. News10NBC asked the chief why the store had all of its windows and its door boarded up with plywood, and if this contributed to the attempted armed robbery.

"We literally had a discussion this morning about that so certainly that’s something we’re going to work with Family Dollar on their management staff, and see what we can work toward this system," Herriott-Sullivan said.

The Chief said right now she’s waiting to confirm the suspect’s identity before releasing his name. He’s also believed to be involved in three prior murders here in the city.

"One was last year, and one this year, and so like I said we’re waiting on the information from the Medical Examiner so we can confirm all of that information," Herriott-Sullivan said.

As with any police-involved shootings, the State’s Attorney General’s Office is now leading the investigation.