Rochester Police Officer Recovering After Shooting Near Driving Park Avenue

A Rochester Police Department officer is in stable condition after being shot in the line of duty early Friday morning near the intersection of Driving Park Avenue and Thorn Street.

The incident occurred around 1:00 am when the officer exited his patrol vehicle to speak with an individual on Lake Avenue, just south of Driving Park Avenue, regarding a recent city shooting. As the officer approached, the suspect immediately drew a handgun and fired three shots, striking the officer once in the lower body before fleeing the scene on foot. The injured officer successfully applied his own tourniquet before arriving backup officers provided emergency medical care and transported him via police vehicle to Rochester General Hospital. Officials state the officer's injuries are non-life-threatening.

Following a massive, multi-agency response that established a secure perimeter throughout the surrounding neighborhood, the Rochester Police Department Drone Unit located the suspect at approximately 5:00 am. The drone identified a heat signature from a male hiding in a pile of brush and debris behind a building in the 700 block of Lake Avenue. When the drone illuminated the area with a spotlight, the suspect pulled a handgun and succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities later identified the deceased suspect as 34-year-old Shatique Cato of Rochester, who was actively wanted in connection with a March 9th shooting on Hague Street. No law enforcement personnel fired weapons during the encounter, and the RPD Major Crimes Unit is continuing the investigation.