ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Boston area man who police say shot and killed a Rochester police officer and injured another last week appeared in a Rochester courtroom on Wednesday.
Kelvin Vickers, 21, was in court for a preliminary hearing where the case was waived to a grand jury for a final say on charges.
Vickers is currently charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder, assault and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, according to police.
Investigators say Vickers snuck up on a van occupied by Officer Tony Mazurkiewicz and his partner Sino Seng as they were parked on Bauman Street Thursday night and opened fire.
Mazurkiewicz died from his injuries. Officer Seng is expected to recover. Vickers pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Saturday, authorities say. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison if convicted, according to prosecutors.
"The violence in the city is at a high at this point in time," said Assistant District Attorney Monica O'Brien. "I think it is time to come together with these community problems and work on prevention because obviously, our response at the end and prosecuting it doesn't bring back those people."
Vickers is being held without bail, police say. According to the Boston Globe, he recently served prison time in Massachusetts for weapons charges. The Globe says he was released in late May. Rochester police have not said what he was doing in this area.