Weekend News Brief

Rochester Police released updates Thursday on the investigation into a deadly shooting inside a Popeyes in Irondequoit last year.  30 year old Jose Centeno Torres of Rochester, was fatally shot during an argument inside the restaurant on East Ridge Road the night of Dec. 1.  More than four months later, 33 year old Jose Laureano-Serrano of Rochester has been arrested in connection to the incident. However, through eyewitnesses and video surveillance footage, police determined he was not the aggressor in the altercation and was acting in self defense when he allegedly shot Torres.  Still, officers say the handgun Laureano-Serrano used was not legally owned, and as a result, he was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

The DEC seized an 11 foot long, 800 pound alligator from a home in Hamburg and now thousands in the community have signed a petition to have him returned.  Tony Cavallaro got Albert the alligator from a reptile show in 1990 when he was a baby and calls him a son.  The Hamburg man built a room for Albert in 2016, which has a pool, and a waterfall.  He said on Wednesday the DEC swarmed his home, with the help of police and the SPCA Serving Erie County, took his phone out of his hand, and would not let him say goodbye to Albert.  Cavallaro previously had a permit for Albert, but it expired in 2021 and was not renewed. However, Cavallaro said he tried to renew it with the DEC.  The DEC said that Cavallaro allowed people to come into contact with the alligator which would be grounds for license revocation.  They said Albert has been turned over to a caretaker and will be taken to permanent care and more charges against the owner will be assessed.

The SPCA Serving Erie County announced that 18 dogs that were living in squalor were rescued from a small home in Concord.  Two people face animal cruelty charges in connection to the case and the dogs are now in the custody of the SPCA. They will eventually be fostered and then will be available for adoption, though that will take time due to their condition.  An SPCA spokesperson said the 18 dogs were living in a small 10 by 30 structure with the owner and the conditions were “horrific.”  According to the SPCA, the owner was trying to do their best. The dogs are healthy in terms of weight and they were definitely being fed but it was overwhelming and instead of reaching for help they let it continue, and that unfortunately became cruel.

There is still some cold on the way but it’s time to get ready to garden!  Emmanuel Baptist Church at 190 Oak Street in Batavia is looking for gardeners for its 20 plot Community Garden. You can plant flowers or fruits and veggies in the 4 by 3 plots with water, tools, seeds and soil provided for you.  Plots are 20 dollars each.  Call 585 343 4905 or email ebcbatavia@gmail.com to sign up.