Crime
36-year-old Richard Gollwitzer killed in Orchard Street shooting
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Police Department has identified the man who was found dead on May 8 in a wooded area along Orchard Street.
The victim has been confirmed as 36-year-old Richard Gollwitzer of Ogden, New York.
Officers responded to the scene at approximately 9:45 p.m. Thursday night following reports of a possible assault and an injured individual in the area.
Upon arrival, officers located Gollwitzer on the north side of a building in a wooded area, where he was pronounced deceased.
According to police, Gollwitzer had sustained at least one gunshot wound to the upper body.
His death is being investigated as a homicide.
The RPD Major Crimes Unit is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
As of now, no arrests have been announced, and police are urging members of the public to come forward with any information.
Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity, has video footage, or has information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the following:
- RPD Homicide Unit: (585) 428-7157
- Crime Stoppers (anonymous): (585) 423-9300
- Email: MajorCrimes@cityofrochester.gov
- Or call 911 directly
Authorities are continuing to follow leads and urge community cooperation as the investigation progresses.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.