Canandaigua, New York — A man faces serious charges after allegedly assaulting another man with an axe during a violent incident at a local motel early Friday morning. The attack left the victim in critical condition.
Authorities identified the suspect as 27-year-old Justin A. Rogers, who reportedly attacked 53-year-old John D. Kirby inside the D&D Motel on County Road 50. According to investigators, Rogers struck Kirby multiple times with an axe, inflicting severe injuries to his upper body.
Emergency responders arrived at the motel shortly after 7:30 a.m. following a welfare check that revealed an unresponsive man. Upon arrival, deputies found Kirby suffering from significant trauma. He was subsequently airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he remains in critical condition.
Rogers, who had previously encountered legal troubles, was arrested and charged with felony assault in connection with this latest incident. He was arraigned in Ontario County Court and is currently being held without bail while awaiting further court proceedings. Authorities have indicated that there is no ongoing threat to the public regarding this case.
In the span of just two years, Rogers has been arrested multiple times for assault-related charges. His first occurred in March 2024 when he punched a man at a nearby motel. Later, in September, Rogers was arrested again for assaulting a victim, which resulted in severe facial injuries. Additionally, during that same incident, he reportedly attempted to strike a deputy, injuring the officer in the process.
Despite these previous offenses, Rogers had been released to pretrial services after the earlier charges, which has raised concerns among community members about public safety and the effectiveness of the judicial system.
Authorities are actively investigating the specifics of the attack and are encouraging anyone with relevant information to reach out to the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office. The incident has sparked discussions surrounding violent crime in the area and the measures in place to prevent it.