Rochester woke to tragedy this Saturday, in what neighbors hoped would only be another quiet early morning. Instead, 39-year-old John Dempsey became the city’s 28th homicide of the year when he was found unresponsive outside a home on Bock Street, in Rochester’s Beechwood neighborhood, just after 3:30 a.m. Authorities say he was fatally shot.
According to Rochester police, officers arrived on the scene to discover Dempsey lying on the sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds. Attempts by emergency crews to revive him failed, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. What immediately caught investigators’ attention was evidence of a birthday party nearby — one that apparently culminated in a confrontation.
Police say they believe Dempsey was among those attending the gathering, and that an altercation during or after the party spiraled into violence that ended his life. The specific trigger for the confrontation remains murky; detectives are now sifting through witness interviews and reviewing surveillance footage from houses and businesses in the vicinity.
As of now, no arrests have been made — the case remains open and fresh. Investigators are urging anyone who may have seen or heard something, or who has even a seemingly minor detail (like a car passing, a sound, a face), to contact the Rochester Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit or dial 911.
Local voices are tense. In Beechwood, neighbors describe a typically tight-knit, mostly peaceful block — one they never expected to see blood and sirens in the darkness. Some were awoken by disturbance, others by the glow of flashing lights, and still more only realized the gravity when law enforcement closed off the street. Faith leaders and community organizers are calling for calm, unity, and cooperation with police to prevent more tragedy.
In the city’s broader picture, Dempsey’s death is a grim statistic. Rochester has now seen 28 homicides this year, a figure that continues to alarm officials and residents alike. Many argue these aren’t just individual losses, but symptoms of a deeper crisis: lack of resources, rising conflict, and communities under stress. Calls are mounting for greater investment in youth outreach, mental health services, and mediation programs in neighborhoods like Beechwood.
Behind the badge and beyond the headlines lies a man whose death has left family, friends, and his community reeling. Described by loved ones as warm, friendly, and kind, Dempsey’s life is now being remembered in small echoes — a smile here, a greeting there, moments now forever paused. As the police investigation continues, so too does the community’s hope that answers will emerge, that closure may come, and that this violence might one day stop.