Kyelon Marbury is a Rochester, New York man serving a combined 90-years-to-life prison sentence for two separate murders he committed in 2023, when he was 17 years old. A Monroe County jury convicted him of killing 35-year-old Jermaine Wilkins in February 2023 and 31-year-old James Huff IV in April 2023, along with an attempted murder and multiple weapons charges from a series of shootings across the city.
The Two Killings
Jermaine Wilkins, February 18, 2023
The day began with an afternoon attack. Around 2:40 p.m., Marbury jumped out of a vehicle on Scio Street near School No. 25 and fired a 9mm handgun at a man walking on the sidewalk.1Democrat and Chronicle. Kyelon Marbury Guilty in Deadly Shooting He got back in the vehicle and fired more rounds while leaning out the window.2Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Kyelon Marbury Conviction No one was hit.
That evening, at about 9:15 p.m., Marbury ran down Denver Street in the Beechwood neighborhood and fired multiple rifle shots at Jermaine Wilkins, a Buffalo resident visiting family in Rochester.3Democrat and Chronicle. Kyelon Marbury Charged in Death of Jermaine Wilkins Wilkins was struck three times in the upper body. He ran to a house on the 300 block of Parsells Avenue, banged on the door, and collapsed. He died despite efforts by residents and responding officers to save him.2Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Kyelon Marbury Conviction Police said there was no known relationship between Marbury and Wilkins.
James Huff IV, April 23, 2023
Two months later, Marbury shot at a woman driving near Rosewood Terrace and Webster Avenue on April 21, 2023. Two days after that, he took part in a drive-by shooting on Webster Avenue.4Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Kyelon Marbury Second Conviction Shortly after 1:00 p.m., Rochester police found 31-year-old James Huff IV between Parsells Avenue and Melville Street with three rifle wounds to his upper body. Huff was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he died.5WHEC. Rochester Man Sentenced to 40 Years to Life for Drive-By Shooting on Webster Avenue
Investigators determined Huff was walking home when Marbury and at least one other person carried out the attack. Rochester Police Captain Frank Umbrino said Huff had no criminal history and no known conflicts.6Democrat and Chronicle. Man Fatally Shot on Webster Avenue A co-defendant, 16-year-old Al Oliver Jr., was also indicted in the shooting.7Democrat and Chronicle. Kyelon Marbury, Al Oliver Charged in Webster Avenue Shooting Death of James Huff
Arrest
Marbury was arrested on July 21, 2023, at a hotel in the town of Henrietta by the U.S. Marshals Violent Felony Fugitive Task Force and the Rochester Police Department SWAT Team.8RochesterFirst. 17-Year-Old Arrested for February Homicide, Shots Fired Near School He was 17. He was arraigned in Monroe County Court, held without bail, and transported to the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center in Rush.9WHEC. RPD Speaks on Significant Murder Arrest Captain Umbrino said Marbury was suspected of involvement in numerous other shootings, assaults, and car thefts in the Rochester area over the previous 18 months.3Democrat and Chronicle. Kyelon Marbury Charged in Death of Jermaine Wilkins
Convictions and Sentencing
The Wilkins case went first. An initial trial ended in a mistrial.10Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. MCDA Bulletin At the retrial on November 19, 2025, a jury found Marbury guilty on all counts: second-degree murder for the killing of Wilkins, attempted second-degree murder for the Scio Street shooting, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.1Democrat and Chronicle. Kyelon Marbury Guilty in Deadly Shooting On January 23, 2026, Judge Julie Hahn sentenced him to 50 years to life.1113WHAM. 20-Year-Old Man Sentenced to Combined 90 Years in Prison for Pair of Murder Convictions
The Huff case followed while Marbury was already incarcerated. On March 19, 2026, a Monroe County jury convicted him of second-degree murder, four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree reckless endangerment, and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.12New York Daily Record. Rochester Man Convicted of Second Murder On April 21, 2026, Judge Hahn imposed 40 years to life for the Huff murder and related charges, ordered to run consecutively to the earlier sentence for a combined 90 years to life.13Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Kyelon Marbury Second Sentence
Monroe County District Attorney Brian P. Green said the verdict “holds Kyelon Marbury accountable for yet another senseless act of violence that took an innocent life and endangered others in our community.”4Monroe County District Attorney’s Office. Kyelon Marbury Second Conviction
Why He Was Tried as an Adult at 17
Marbury was 17 when he committed both murders, which placed his case inside New York’s Raise the Age framework. That law, which took effect for 16- and 17-year-olds in 2018 and 2019, generally routes felony cases involving teenagers to a specialized Youth Part of county court and presumes non-violent felonies will be transferred to Family Court. Second-degree murder is treated differently. The statute sharply restricts removal to Family Court for homicide charges, and any transfer requires a prosecution request and a judicial finding that it serves the interests of justice.14New York State Federal Judicial Center. Raise the Age
Consistent with the law’s ban on housing youth in adult correctional facilities, Marbury was held at the Monroe County Children’s Detention Center after his arrest rather than in an adult jail.8RochesterFirst. 17-Year-Old Arrested for February Homicide, Shots Fired Near School He was ultimately tried and sentenced in adult court, and now serves his 90-year-to-life sentence in the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.15Democrat and Chronicle. Kyelon Marbury Gets 90 Years to Life for Two Murders