Rochester, NY (March 31, 2023) The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has released video capturing events leading up to, and including a deputy-involved shooting on March 20, 2023 in the Park Avenue neighborhood of the City of Rochester. The shooting resulted in the death of Brendon Burns, 35, of Rochester.
The video may be viewed at https://youtu.be/LuWrv6dnrS0. The video contains footage from neighborhood residences, School #23, and MCSO body-worn camera (BWC). There is no additional BWC footage due to the fluidity of the situation, and the prioritization of tasks by deputies necessary to ensure safety.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies who fired shots while attempting to take Brendon Burns into custody in the Park Avenue neighborhood are identified as:
- Sergeant DeVinney 21 years of service
- Deputy Hillegeer 12 years of service
- Deputy Baker 10 years of service
“The courage and selflessness exhibited by these deputies and other members of law enforcement in the pursuit of a person committing multiple acts of gun violence in recent hours and days is remarkable,” said Sheriff Todd K. Baxter. “Their efforts to protect members of this community, including young children at nearby School #23 were exemplary. Many factors contributed to split-second decisions made by deputies and officers engaged in the pursuit of a violent suspect. I stand with my deputies and the decisions they made.”
We extend our sympathies to the family of Mr. Burns during this difficult time. We also empathize with our deputies, whose lives will be forever changed as a result of this incident. We are grateful that no other members of the community or law enforcement officers were injured or killed during this incident.
As required by New York State law, the NYS Attorney General’s Office continues their investigation into this matter, as does MCSO.