Man pleads guilty in deadly drive-by shooting

Victoria E. Freile, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read
Shaqur Nesmith, 22, was fatally shot in the area of Orchard and Jay Street Wednesday night. Friends had gathered at the intersection to mourn him Thursday, July 23, 2020.
Shaqur Nesmith, 22, was fatally shot in the area of Orchard and Jay Street Wednesday night. Friends had gathered at the intersection to mourn him Thursday, July 23, 2020.

UPDATE (Jan. 18, 2022): A Rochester man Tuesday morning pleaded guilty in the 2020 shooting death of a 22-year-old man during a drive-by shooting.

Nicholas Serret, 25, pleaded guilty for first-degree manslaughter, a felony, in connection with the July 22, 2020 shooting death of Shaqur Nesmith at the corner of Jay and Orchard streets in Rochester, according to the Monroe County District Attorney's Office.

Serret intentionally fired 6 to 10 shots at Nesmith, who later died at Strong Memorial Hospital.

According to the DA's Office, Serret will serve 20 years in state prison and 5 years post-release supervision. His sentencing is scheduled to take place in state Supreme Court on April 26.

“Nicholas Serret violently took a life from our community,” Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley said in a news release. “Nicholas Serret had no regard for Mr. Nesmith’s life, the lives of the victim’s friends and family, or anyone who could have been caught in the crossfire. This was a completely unnecessary death and now Mr. Serret will face the consequences of his actions.”

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ORIGINAL STORY (July 23, 2020): A 22-year-old Rochester man was fatally shot on Rochester's west side Wednesday night, according to Rochester police.

Capt. Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department said that officers were called to Jay and Orchard streets around 7 p.m. after shots were fired in the area. As officers were en route to the scene, which is just north of Interstate 490 and several blocks west of West Broad Street, a man arrived at Strong Memorial Hospital in a private vehicle.

Shaqur Nesmith was shot at least once, said Rochester police investigator Jackie Shuman. He died at the hospital a short time later.

Officers later determined that Nesmith was shot while standing outside at the corner of Jay and Orchard streets, Umbrino said.

The man's death marks the city's 21st homicide of 2020.

Some of Nesmith's friends gathered at Jay and Orchard to remember Nesmith early Thursday. They declined to comment on the record but said he cared about his family.

Several hours after the fatal shooting, around 10 p.m., a 24-year-old Rochester woman was shot at least once in the upper body at 419 Flint St. in southwest Rochester, said Capt. Brian Marone.

The woman was was taken to Strong for treatment. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening.

No charges have been filed in connection with either shooting.

Anyone with information about either shooting is asked to call 911.

Contact Victoria Freile at vfreile@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @vfreile and Instagram @vfreile. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Nicholas Serret pleads guilty in death of Shaqur Nesmith in Rochester NY