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10/14/2012 03:46 PM

Push Yourself 5k Remembers Homicide Victim

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A Rochester homicide victim was remembered during a 5K Sunday morning. Paul Vasconcellos II, was killed two years ago. His case remains unsolved.

The annual Push Yourself 5K challenged runners to do more than make it to the finish line.

It's been two years and still no answers for family and friends of Vasconcellos II, known to his loved ones as Pauly.

"I don't know how people can live with themselves if they see a crime and don't say something about it," said Paul Vasconcellos Sr.

Pauly was gunned down during what police call an attempted robbery, outside his home on
Post Avenue, October 24th, 2010. His father describes him as a man who dedicated his life to his community.

"He was a home health aide, that wasn't what he went to RIT for," said Vasconcellos Sr. "He helped people. I'm proud of him, I was so proud of him."

Paul Vasconcellos Sr. joined nearly five hundred others during the third annual Push Yourself 5K Challenge at Ellison Park.

"Paul, I know would be here volunteering, running, helping," said Paul Valenti, Push Yourself Founder.

The run focused on several causes that have impacted friends of Valenti, who organized the event.

"The second person is Dan Prinzi, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma," said Valenti. "Funds go to both causes, leukemia and lymphoma research and then Crime Stoppers."

Valenti and Vasconcellos Sr. hope to raise money to increase the reward for the tip that leads to an arrest in Pauly's case.

"As far as our investigation goes we've been reaching out to the community. We've been following up on possible leads that have come but we haven't reach that point where we can make an arrest at this time," said James Sheppard, Rochester Police Chief.

Loved ones hope the run will help them make it through the finish in their journey for justice.

"I want to remind people, he's not forgotten," said Vasconcellos Sr.