Abagail Perez Obituary, Death; RPD: Spencer Street stabbing victim ID’d, suspect arrested

Abagail Perez Obituary, Death – Rochester police have arrested a man accused of killing a woman in a stabbing incident on Spencer Street, an attack that has drawn significant attention due to the violent circumstances and the history between those involved.

Authorities identified the suspect as 21-year-old Javier Justice, who has now been charged with second-degree murder in the death of 31-year-old Abagail Perez. Investigators say the pair were in a relationship, lived on Spencer Street together, and shared a child.

Police report that on August 14, the couple was involved in a heated argument that escalated to violence. During the altercation, Justice allegedly stabbed Perez. A bystander at the scene, witnessing the attack, shot Justice in an attempt to intervene. Despite immediate medical attention, Perez succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to the hospital.

Justice, who survived the shooting, remains hospitalized. Authorities say he is expected to recover and will be arraigned from the hospital once released. Investigators also confirmed that the person who shot Justice has been identified but has not been charged, as their actions appear to have been taken in response to the stabbing.

This was not the first time Justice faced accusations of violence against Perez. Records show that in July, he had been arrested for allegedly assaulting her, obstructing her breathing, and stealing her cell phone. At that time, he was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing, larceny, and third-degree assault but was released on his own recognizance pending further court action.

In addition, Justice has a pending indictment for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, connected to a 2023 shooting. That case has yet to reach final adjudication, and he had been awaiting further court proceedings when the stabbing took place.

The Rochester Police Department’s account of the tragedy underscores the danger Perez faced in her relationship and raises troubling questions about whether earlier intervention could have prevented her death. The charges now facing Justice carry severe potential penalties, with second-degree murder being among the most serious under New York law.

Authorities have asked the public to remain engaged in providing information that could help strengthen the case as it proceeds. Meanwhile, community advocates and residents are pointing to the incident as another example of the devastating consequences of domestic violence.

For now, Justice remains under guard while hospitalized, and investigators say the next step will be his arraignment on murder charges once his medical condition allows. Perez’s family, meanwhile, is left grieving the loss of a young woman whose life was cut short in a violent act, leaving behind a child caught in the aftermath.

The investigation remains ongoing, with prosecutors expected to pursue both the murder charge and Justice’s other pending cases in the coming months.