Meaghan M. McDermott

@meagmc

Tyquan Rivera, the 21-year-old Rochester man who shot Rochester Police Officer Anthony DiPonzio in the head in 2009, will be released from prison next month.

According to the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision website, Rivera was approved for a conditional release effective July 9.

The Parole Board denied Rivera parole earlier this year following a Jan. 13 hearing, stating, "The panel has determined that if released at this time, there is a reasonable probability that (he) would not live and remain at liberty without again violating the law and that your release woudl (sic) be incompatible with the welfare of society."

Rivera, now 21, was 14 in 2009 when he shot 24-year-old DiPonzio. He was convicted of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault. But, he was sentenced to 3 ⅓ to 10 years in prison because of his status as a youthful offender.

DiPonzio went through intensive rehabilitation before returning to work in November 2011.

According to the Department of Corrections, inmate behavior and participation is considered to determine whether he or she has earned "good time" off of his or her maximum sentence. If an inmate is conditionally released, he or she will be under parole supervision until his or her full sentence is up.

Rivera is incarcerated at Greene Correctional Facility in Coxasackie, Greene County, south of Albany.

MCDERMOT@Gannett.com