Statement released by sister of retired RPD officer who died in Jefferson Ave. shooting
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Police Department said that William Booker, a retired RPD officer who served for 21 years, is the man who was fatally shot on Sunday morning on Jefferson Avenue.
Booker was 50 years years old and retired from the department in 2017. He spent almost 10 years as a School Resource Officer at Franklin High School, focused on steering youth away from violence. Before joining the RPD, he was a U.S. Marine.
Booker’s sister said she and her family are heartbroken after their loss. She said Booker was a man of faith who was dedicated to his community. Here is her statement:
“It is with heavy hearts that we, the family of William Keith Booker, confirm that he was murdered on the morning of September 25, 2022. A beloved father, son, brother, cousin, and friend, Booker served Rochester proudly for 20 plus years as a police officer and beyond that, as a man of faith.”
The statement continues: “Thank you to the Rochester Police Department and City of Rochester for leading the investigation. We have complete confidence that justice will be served. We would also like to reiterate that Booker was a man of faith. So even as we seek justice, we pray that this horrible tragedy and the other senseless homicides that have occurred in Rochester will usher in a much needed change. ‘Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.’ -Luke 17:33 NKJV”
Rochester police are investigating another homicide from overnight at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and Iceland Street.
Police responded at around 2 a.m. to Jefferson Ave. and Iceland Park after getting reports of a car crash and then a shooting. Officers found Booker with a lower body gunshot wound and he was rushed to Strong Hospital, where he died shortly after he arrived.
RPD investigators determined that Booker was driving on Jefferson Ave. when his car stuck an unoccupied parked car. Investigators haven’t determined if Booker was shot before or after the crash.
Also on Sunday morning, a woman between her 30s and 40s was found dead in an alley near Fulton Avenue and Pearce Street. Police didn’t say how she died but confirmed it’s a murder investigation. Police haven’t yet released her name.
Both murders are under investigation, police do not have any suspects right now. Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
There have been more than 60 homicides this year according to the RPD Open Data Portal.