[chris]

Haley Rodriguez, 27, of the Rochester area, was shot and killed by a Town of Gates police officer on Oct. 4, 2026, in Gates, Monroe County.

At about 1 a.m., an officer on routine patrol in a marked car encountered Rodriguez in the middle of Spencerport Road near Baier and Karl Fuchs drives. No 911 calls about her preceded the encounter. The initial radio description was of a man drinking beer outside 215 Spencerport Road. The officer turned around, activated his flashing lights and stopped to get her out of the road. Rodriguez held a Labatt Blue beer can and an object resembling a revolver. The officer requested backup at gunpoint. Body-camera footage shows repeated requests to put the object down, including, "Put it down right now please, I don't want to hurt you." The officer also directed passing cars to keep moving. Rodriguez did not speak during the exchange, which lasted about 15 to 20 seconds from the officer leaving his car to the shooting.

Immediately before firing, the officer asked her to put it down and talk. Rodriguez appears to raise one hand toward him. The officer fired his service weapon. The officer requested emergency medical help and closure of Spencerport Road. Officers provided aid, and Gates Fire and Gates EMS responded. An ambulance took Rodriguez to Strong Memorial Hospital, where she died. The officer was not injured. Emergency vehicles blocked part of the road for hours. A 7-inch imitation handgun recovered at the scene could not fire. Its identification remains disputed. One description identifies it as an apparent screw-on walking-stick handle with a revolver-like barrel. Wright believed it was a silver gun-shaped torch lighter he had given Rodriguez, about finger-sized and fitted with an orange safety cap.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation. The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation opened a separate investigation on Oct. 7, including review of whether deadly force was legally justified. The officer has not been publicly named and remains on administrative leave.

[DarkSighted]

Died in a haley of bullets.

[chris]

Not sure what she was thinking approaching an officer with a gun, even a fake one, then refusing to drop it.

[Mr.NoCredit]

He was super nice and very cool to give her the opportunity to drop whatever she had in her hands. A lot of officers wouldn’t have done that. He risked his life to help her.

[kellyhound]

Originally Posted by chris ↗

Not sure what she was thinking approaching an officer with a gun, even a fake one, then refusing to drop it.

Her family and close friends have shared that Haley had been battling severe mental health issues for several years like we see in a ton of these cases.

A close family friend also confirmed her struggles, describing her as a kind-hearted person who had recently become increasingly withdrawn due to her mental health challenges.

maybe the combination of her pre-existing mental health crisis and substance use, beer, maybe impaired her judgment, perception and ability to comprehend or comply. she didn't say a single word so maybe in shock or facing a severe psychological episode/psychosis.