Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on August 30, 2023
Rochester Police are investigating a mass shooting in the city’s downtown area Tuesday night. Officers responded to a parking lot on Savannah Street just North of the Museum of Play around 8:15 p.m. for the report of people shot. They found two women, ages 63 and 29, with non-life threatening gunshot wounds. Police said a third victim, a 39-year-old man, was found in the area of East Main and Scio streets at the scene of a crash where a car was flipped over. He’s also expected to survive. The fourth victim, a 24-year-old man, was taken to the hospital by private vehicle with life-threatening injuries. Police did not say if any arrests have been made as the investigation continues.
By August 29th there had been more than 3000 cases of Car Theft in Monroe county according to Rochester Police. In July, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office launched its multi-agency stolen car task force. Since then, MCSO reports 42 arrests. Not only have there been dozens of arrests, but the sheriff’s office also indicates it has issued more than 100 traffic citations and recovered 11 stolen vehicles. Investigators state that it’s mainly juveniles behind the wheel of these stolen cars. They say it is difficult to catch the kids and dangerous to chase them down with many such incidents ending in crashes. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the task force will continue for the foreseeable future.
An asylum seeker who was being housed in Buffalo is in jail after breaking windows and assaulting a person. 28-year-old Gustavo Diaz Carvajal of Venezuela was arraigned on Saturday in Cheektowaga Town Court on one count of second-degree criminal mischief, one count of third-degree assault and one count of second-degree harassment. The district attorney’s office said Diaz Carvajal, along with another unidentified individual, is accused of breaking the glass of three windows and three doors by throwing rocks at a lounge on the 600 block of Dingens Street. Officials estimated the damage at approximately $12,000. When Diaz Carvajal was confronted by an employee of the building he allegedly attacked the employee. He is accused of intentionally kicking and punching the victim, causing an injury to the victim’s left knee. According to the district attorney’s office, Diaz Carvajal is an asylum seeker here in Western New York and was living at a hotel on Dingens Street. He continues to be held on bail set at $50,000 cash, insurance bond or partially secured surety bond.
Jason Clark, the former teacher and principal at St Paul Lutheran School in Batavia, may have violated his parole by telling conflicting statements to his parole officer. In court when he entered his guilty plea he stated that he had sexual contact with a child, touching her chest on multiple occasions, to satisfy his sexual desires. He told his parole officer he isn’t and has never been attracted to children which Judge Melissa Cianfrini says is in contradiction of his sworn admission in court. Cianfrini ordered a hearing, which will likely include testimony from the probation officer, for 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 17.
The Flying J travel center in Pembroke has been remodeled. The renovations are part of Pilot Company’s nationwide initiative, called New Horizons, to invest $1 billion in remodeling its stores to upgrade the experience for team members and guests and prepare for the future of travel. Additionally, Pilot Company is donating $10,000 to Pembroke Central School District as part of its commitment to giving back. The remodel included new showers and bathrooms, expanded food options and beverage coolers and updated laundry facilities.
Mike Sputore has been hired as the Blue Devils varsity baseball coach. Sputore, a Batavia native, played as a member of the Ramblers, who were coached by his father, Paul, in the Batavia Minor League on the diamond at the corner of State and Denio Streets and continuing through two seasons as a pitcher and third baseman for the Genesee Community College Cougars. For the last two years he was coach at Pembroke Central School. He said he hopes to get his players on the field for some practice in October and is planning some “winter workouts” with the drop-down batting cage at the high school’s auxiliary gym. He also is excited about the “Meet the Coach Night” on Sept. 12 at the high school for all of the program’s players and parents.
