News Release from

The Honorable Sandra Doorley

Monroe County District Attorney

July 16, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR: Calli Marianetti
Monroe County District Attorney’s Office
47 South Fitzhugh Street
Rochester, NY 14614
(585) 753-4532

Grand Jury finds No Cause for Action in the Death of Tyshon Jones
Rochester, NY- Friday, July 16, 2021, a Monroe County Grand Jury found No Cause for Action
against Rochester Police Officer Matthew Drake in the death of Tyshon Jones.

The Grand Jury conducted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Jones’ death
on March 10, 2021. Although proceedings before grand juries are secret as a matter of law, the
findings of the District Attorney’s Office, made from evidence uncovered outside of the grand jury
proceeding, can be made public. The investigation into the case revealed:

In the early morning hours of March 10, 2021, the Rochester Police Department received
a report of a male who entered the Open Door Mission at 210 West Main Street in the City
of Rochester and removed a bucket of knives from the kitchen then fled on foot.

Rochester Police Officers located Tyshon Jones in the area of Cascade and Industrial in the
City of Rochester. He appeared to be cutting himself with a large butcher knife. Jones
began advancing toward the officers with the knife while officers retreated. He told officers
that he is dangerous and wished to kill the officers.

Responding officers requested a Bean Bag Gun Operator to respond and confirmed an
officer was on their way.

The officers continued to retreat approximately 450 feet while Tyshon Jones continued to
advance toward them with the butcher knife. Officer Drake ordered Jones to drop the knife
over 17 times as officers continued to retreat. After repeated verbal commands and attempts
to de-escalate the situation, Tyshon Jones ran toward Officer Drake with the butcher knife
extended in front of him. As Officer Drake accelerated his back-step to retreat from Jones,
he lost his balance and nearly fell. When Officer Drake regained his footing, Jones was
approximately 13 feet away still advancing with the knife.
 At that point, Officer Drake discharged 5 rounds from his service weapon in two seconds,
striking Jones all 5 times while in front of 210 West Main Street. Jones was struck once in
the left groin, once in the right chest, once in the arm and twice in the abdomen.

Immediately following the shots, Officer Drake and two other Rochester Police Officers
began to administer first aid utilizing their trauma kit. Jones was transported by ambulance
to URMC where he was pronounced dead.

After a thorough presentation of the evidence, including body worn camera footage, video footage
from 210 West Main Street and witness testimony, the Grand Jury found that Rochester Police
Officer Matthew Drake’s conduct was justified. As a result, no criminal charges relating to the
death of Tyshon Jones will be forthcoming.

###