Man charged in fatal shooting of Gates business owner

Victoria E. Freile, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Updated ·2 min read
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A Rochester man has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a Gates business owner last month.

Malik Black, 47, of Rochester was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Jessica Romich, said Gates Police Chief Rob Long. He was apprehended Tuesday in Rochester by Gates police and members of the Rochester Police Department's SWAT team.

Romich, 47, was the co-owner of Everdry Waterproofing, 12 Pixley Industrial Parkway. Long said that Black was a former employee who worked for Everdry several years ago.

Black is accused driving to the business on Sept. 30, where he approached Romich as she was leaving work for the day, "there was a situation between the two that ended with Jessica's death," Long said.

Long said the fatal shooting was an "isolated incident." He declined to speak further about the motive behind the shooting.

Romich's body was discovered about 5 p.m. on Sept. 30 in a parking lot on Pixley Industrial Parkway. She was shot once and died from her injuries. Long said Romich's body was found in the parking lot near her car.

Romich's death was Gates' first homicide of 2023, Long said.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family," Long said.

Romich, a Chili resident, was survived by her husband John, children Cooper and Kylie, and father David Beyers as well as numerous other relatives, according to her obituary. She was predeceased by her mother Linda Beyers.

Long said that Black is currently on parole for a second-degree murder and felony weapon conviction. According to the New York State Department of Corrections of Community Supervision, Black was convicted in 1994 and released in 2020.

"This is ludicrous," Long said at a mid-afternoon news conference at Gates Town Hall. "This is somebody who was not rehabilitated by the system....We are not holding people accountable."

Black pleaded not guilty in Gates Town Court on Tuesday and was remanded to the Monroe County Jail without bail, according to Gates police.

Additional charges are pending.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Malik Black charged in death of Jessica Romich in Gates NY