ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Overall crime in Rochester is down compared to levels before the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 16 murders so far in 2025. However, one of those murders occurred off South Clinton Avenue, where police say a 35-year-old man was shot in the back of the head and killed after an argument at a party.
The victim was Jamell Allen, and his aunt, Yvonne Allen-Clinkscales, works with Baden Street Settlement to help save young men.
“For a person like me, it just gives me more motivation to assure that another family doesn’t go through what I went through,” said Allen-Clinkscales.
The efforts of groups like Baden Street Settlement and the police are having an impact. The murder victimization rate in Rochester has decreased from 35 per 100,000 people in 2022 to 8 per 100,000 people in 2025. In comparison, the rate was 13 per 100,000 people in 2017 and 19 per 100,000 people in 2016.
Murder victimization rate:2025: 8 per 100,000 people2022: 35 per 100,000 people2017: 13 per 100,000 people2016: 19 per 100,000 people
The latest report from the Council on Criminal Justice shows that 11 major crimes in 42 cities are below 2019 levels, the year before the onset of the pandemic.
Ernesto Lopez, Sr. Research Specialist at the Council on Criminal Justice and author of the report, says there is no single reason why crime is down.
Berkeley Brean, News10NBC: “But something positive is happening. Would it be fair to say that?”Ernesto Lopez: “I think there is something positive happening when you have less people being victimized.”
The downward trend is true for other major crimes as well. Comparing the average number of crimes per week between 2025, 2024 and 2019:
Aggravated Assault: 13 per week in 2025, down from 17 per week in 2024 and equal to 13 per week in 2019. Robbery: 6 per week in 2025, down from 8 per week in both 2024 and 2019. Larceny: 66 per week in 2025, down from 74 per week in 2024 and 97 per week in 2019. Burglary: 10 per week in 2025, down from 18 per week in 2024 and 24 per week in 2019.Aggravated Assault2019: 13 per week2024: 17 per week2025: 13 per week
Robbery:2019: 8 per week2024: 8 per week2025: 6 per week
Larceny:2019: 97 per week2024: 74 per week2025: 66 per week
Burglary:2019: 24 per week2024: 18 per week2025: 10 per week
However, one crime that has not returned to pre-pandemic levels is stolen cars. Lori Harris, a mother who works two jobs, had her 12-year-old Hyundai stolen from her apartment parking spot in Henrietta. The thieves bent the steering wheel club and left it behind, and the sheriff’s report says the car was used in a robbery in Irondequoit.
“If you have the opportunity to plan, organize and implement these stolen vehicles that are effecting so many lives then you have the wherewithal to go a get a job,” said Harris.
According to Lopez, “motor vehicle theft remains about 25% higher the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2019.”
Berkeley Brean: “Of all these crimes we’re looking at, they’re all going down except this one.”Lori Harris: “I don’t know. Maybe they’re selling the parts. Maybe there’s a black market. I don’t know why they feel the need to do this.”
While the situation is improving, with RPD averaging 27 stolen cars per week in 2025 compared to 75 per week at the peak in 2023, it is still higher than the 10 per week in 2019.
Harris had a message for the thieves: “I am the mother of three young men. I know your mother is praying for you just as I pray for my children. Do better.”
The data used in this report comes from the Rochester Police Department, as it is the only local police department that posts and updates data on major crimes. No other local department in any of the local counties provides this information.
AI assisted with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how WHEC News 10 uses AI
News10NBC Investigates: Rochester murder rate drops to pre-pandemic levels, but families still grieve losses WHEC.com.
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