Teen Killed on Warwick Street Identified

Rochester, N.Y. — The fatal shooting of 16-year-old Aajion Wright in Rochester’s 19th Ward has once again drawn attention to the city’s ongoing struggle with youth gun violence.

Police responded to reports of shots fired around 11 p.m. Thursday on Warwick Avenue near Kirkland Road, where they found Wright lying in a driveway between two homes. According to the Rochester Police Department (RPD), the teen had been struck multiple times. He was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Investigators confirmed that Wright did not live in the neighborhood where he was found, and as of early October 2025, no suspects have been taken into custody. Police say the motive for the shooting remains unclear and are asking anyone with information to come forward. Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit are reviewing surveillance footage from nearby homes and canvassing the area for witnesses.

Wright was a student at Padilla High School, part of the Rochester City School District (RCSD) located on the Franklin Campus. In a statement, the district expressed deep sorrow over his death, calling it a devastating loss for the school community. “Our hearts are with Aajion’s family, friends, and the entire Padilla community,” the statement read. “In the days ahead, our Trauma, Illness, and Grief team will provide counseling and support for students and staff.”

Wright’s death adds to a troubling trend of youth violence that continues to affect Rochester. According to RPD data and FBI Uniform Crime Reporting figures, at least 11 homicide victims under the age of 18 were recorded in Rochester between January 2022 and December 2024. This includes both shooting and stabbing deaths. In 2024 alone, the city reported 45 total homicides, with teenagers making up nearly one-quarter of the victims, according to Monroe County crime analysis reports.

The violence has hit neighborhoods like the 19th Ward, Lyell-Otis, and North Clinton Avenue particularly hard, areas that have historically faced elevated rates of shootings. While overall shootings in Rochester declined in 2024—down roughly 25% from 2023—police and community organizations say the number of young victims remains alarmingly high. Rochester Police Chief David Smith noted earlier this year that many of the city’s shootings involve both victims and suspects under age 25, emphasizing the need for early intervention and community-based violence prevention programs.

Organizations such as Pathways to Peace and Rise Up Rochester have been working with at-risk youth through mentorship, job training, and conflict resolution efforts. Still, community leaders acknowledge that access to resources, mental health support, and stable housing remain key factors in reducing youth involvement in gun violence.

As the investigation into Aajion Wright’s death continues, family members, classmates, and educators are mourning a young life cut short. Vigils are being organized across the city, and grief counselors have been dispatched to Padilla High School to support students struggling with the loss. Wright’s death serves as another painful reminder of the persistent challenge facing Rochester—a city that, despite recent declines in overall violent crime, continues to grapple with the devastating impact of guns in the hands of its youth.