A man police describe as a “lifelong parolee” is in custody for shooting a Rochester police officer on Tesday morning. The officer, who was grazed in the neck, is recovering at home.
The officer’s name has not been disclosed yet. Police say he’s a 15-year veteran of the force, and was shot responding to a call of a man with a gun trying to break into a house on Hague Street.
Capt. Mark Mura said in a press briefing that the suspect fired at the officer when he arrived on scene. Officers returned fire. The suspect, 54-year-old James Hunters, ran, jumping over fences and cutting through yards, but he was tracked down by K9 unit dogs and captured.
The wounded officer was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital by another officer, treated, and was discharged at the end of the day. Interim Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan said in a news conference that he was definitely blessed, and she’s grateful for that.
Tuesday evening, police announced Hunters was in custody and charged with an earlier offense for now. In August of 2019, Hunters was pulled over because he was identified as a parole absconder with two warrant out against him. Hunters drove off, hitting a parked car and an officer who was injured. His car was found abandoned nearby, but Hunters was not. He’s charged with attempted assault on a police officer and obstruction of governmental administration for that earlier incident. Charges are pending for the shooting incident.
Police say Hunters is a four-time convicted felon who has violated parole and been reincarcerated three times, with multiple robbery convictions and weapon convictions.