A judge in Monroe County has vacated a gang-assault conviction tied to the 2007 killing of Latasha Shaw and dismissed the related indictment, leaving a Rochester man who has served nearly two decades behind bars free and the case closed, prosecutors said Monday.
What happened
Terrance Mack was convicted in 2009 in the death of 36-year-old Latasha Shaw, who was chased, stabbed and beaten to death Sept. 29, 2007, at the intersection of Dewey and Driving Park avenues in Rochester. Mack served 18 years of a 25-year sentence before the recent court action.
The decision came after Mack repeatedly sought review of his conviction and, in April 2025, submitted an application to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office Conviction Integrity Unit. Prosecutors said a review of the case file revealed information the office had but that appellate counsel did not possess when arguing appeals and post-conviction motions.
Prosecutor’s findings and legal outcome
On Monday, Monroe County Judge Michael Dollinger vacated the gang-assault conviction and dismissed the indictment. District Attorney Brian Green said the undisclosed material should have been provided to the defendant’s trial attorney through discovery or by the prosecution’s constitutional obligations.
“On reviewing his investigation, it was clear that this office had information in its file, some of which was known to Mr. Mack's trial attorney, but none of which was known by his appellate attorneys,”
Green told reporters the DA’s office turned the material over to Mack’s appellate lawyers after the Conviction Integrity Unit review and agreed that the conviction should be overturned. He said the nature of the information meant the case could no longer be prosecuted, but he did not disclose details of that information.
Evidence and remaining questions
Court records show at least one eyewitness identified Mack as a participant in the attack; Mack has denied being in Rochester on the day of the incident. The DA’s statement indicates the newly disclosed information likely would have affected the outcome of appeals or a 440 motion, but specific contents were not released.
- Victim: Latasha Shaw, 36
- Date of incident: Sept. 29, 2007
- Conviction vacated: Gang assault conviction overturned by Judge Michael Dollinger
- Sentence served: 18 of 25 years
Local impact
The ruling closes a long-running chapter in a case that has affected neighbors and the family of the victim. It also underscores the role of the Conviction Integrity Unit in re-examining old prosecutions and the obligations of prosecutors to disclose material evidence. For Rochester residents, the outcome raises questions about how evidence was handled during the original investigation and trial, and it may prompt renewed calls for transparency in serious criminal cases.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident location | Dewey & Driving Park avenues, Rochester |
| Convicted | 2009 |
| Conviction vacated | 2026 (Judge Michael Dollinger) |
| Time served | 18 years of a 25-year sentence |
Officials have not released the specific material that prompted the dismissal. The DA’s office indicated disclosing it would undermine the possibility of successful prosecution. Community members and the victim’s family may seek further clarification from the prosecutor or court records as the legal posture of the case becomes part of the public record.
