Murder Arrest

Rochester, NY - On November 16, 2025, at approximately 6:30 a.m., officers found 37-year-old Aaron Johnson-Haygood dead in the basement of the vacant front apartment at 484 Ave D. Johnson-Haygood had been stabbed and beaten to death.

Although vacant, 484 Ave. D was an active drug house. It was being used to both sell and use drugs.

Over the last four months, homicide detectives have been working to identify the suspect as well as the motive behind the murder. As a result of their investigative efforts, 29-year-old William Cooke (Rochester resident) was identified as the suspect. Detectives believe the murder was related to drug sales.

Earlier this afternoon, members of the Tactical Unit observed Cooke on Joseph Ave. near Joseph Ave. He attempted to flee but was taken into custody after a foot pursuit.

Cooke has been charged with Murder in the 2nd degree for the murder of Aaron Johnson-Haygood.

William Cooke is a predicate felon and is currently on Federal probation for a 2019 conviction for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute & possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He was sentenced at that time to 72 months in federal prison. It is not clear when he was released. He currently has outstanding arrest warrants for a violation of his federal probation, as well as a City of Rochester arrest warrant for criminal contempt in the 2nd degree.

It is anticipated that he will be arraigned tomorrow, 3/18/26, at 9:30 A.M. in Rochester City Court on the murder charge and the City of Rochester warrant. A federal detainer for his violation of probation is forthcoming.