Raul Lazcano Sentenced to 25 Years to Life for the Homicide of Jose Hernandez

Rochester, NY- On Thursday, January 22, 2026, New York State Supreme Court Justice Vincent Dinolfo sentenced 73-year-old Raul Lazcano to 25 years to Life in the New York State Department of Corrections. The defendant was previously convicted by a jury of Murder in the 2nd Degree for killing Jose Hernandez.

On May 5, 2024, at approximately 6:15PM, Rochester Police Officers responded to an apartment complex on East Main Street in the City of Rochester for a reported stabbing. Upon arrival, they located 68-year-old Jose Hernandez with a stab wound. The victim was immediately transported to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

After a thorough investigation, Rochester Police Investigators determined that Jose Hernandez was sitting in a chair in the community room of the apartment complex, when Raul Lazcano, another resident of the complex, began screaming at Jose Hernandez. Lazcano left the room, grabbed a knife, returned to the room, and stabbed the victim. Both altercations were unprovoked. Raul Lazcano was arrested for the murder.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Harrigan, Chief of the Major Felony Bureau.

“The murder of Jose Hernandez was a brutal, unprovoked act of violence that shattered the lives of his family and loved ones,” said Assistant District Attorney Michael Harrigan. “This was a senseless killing of an innocent man who posed no threat and had no opportunity to protect himself. While today’s maximum sentence ensures that Raul Lazcano will no longer be a threat against our community, it cannot undo the devastating loss suffered by Mr. Hernandez’s family. The defendant’s actions demonstrated a clear and deadly disregard for human life, and this sentence reflects the seriousness of that crime.”

“Jose Hernandez was murdered in his own apartment building, a place where he had every right to feel safe,” said Monroe County District Attorney Brian Green. “The evidence made clear that this was not an impulsive act, but a deliberate and calculated decision to commit violence. Today’s life sentence holds the defendant accountable for that decision, and we hope that it also provides a sense of peace for Mr. Hernandez’s family. I commend the Rochester Police Department and Assistant District Attorney Michael Harrigan for their outstanding work in securing justice in this case.”