Joseph Avenue Murder Arrest

On August 20, 2024, around 10:30am, Brandon Wyand, 31, was stabbed in the upper body at the corner of Joseph Avenue and Seabrook Street. He was rushed by ambulance to URMC and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Wyand was homeless and regularly stayed in the Joseph Avenue neighborhood.

The Major Crimes Homicide Section identified 32-year-old Justin Porter as the person who killed Brandon Wyand. During the course of the investigation, we learned that Porter accidentally dropped a quantity of narcotics packaged for street sale on Avenue D.Wyand was walking down the street and found the narcotics. Porter learned that Wyand found his lost drugs, tracked him down, and stabbed him.

Yesterday, August 23, the Rochester Police Departments Tactical Unit located Justin Porter and took him into custody without incident. The Rochester Police Department SWAT team executed a search warrant at 412 Avenue D, the drug house Justin Porter is associated with and recovered a quantity of narcotics packaged for sale.

Justin Porter was charged with Murder in the 2nd degree and will be arraigned today, August 24, at 9:30 am in Rochester City Court.

Note: The investigation ultimately determined there is no connection between the murder of Brandon Wyand, and John Johnson, who was found murdered at 21 Bloomingdale about1.5 hours earlier on August 20, 2024.