Jeffrey Bashaw, 56, of Schenectady, received the sentence Wednesday, Jan. 13, after a jury found him guilty last summer of second-degree murder, multiple weapons charges, and evidence tampering in the 2023 killing of Leroy Chisom.
Bashaw and co-defendant Kevin Dingle acted together to ambush Chisom inside a boarding house at 764 State Street in the early morning hours of Oct. 22, 2023, according to prosecutors.
Both men wore masks, gloves, and dark clothing, lured Chisom from his bedroom, and shot him repeatedly before fleeing in less than a minute.
Chisom, 41, was found dead inside a tented boarding house room with a rope around his neck, blunt force injuries, and a fatal stab wound, according to investigators.
The medical examiner later determined he died from a combination of gunshot wounds, strangulation, and blunt force trauma.
Surveillance, Forensics, And A Jailhouse Confession
Investigators outlined how surveillance cameras from the district attorney’s camera project tracked Bashaw and Dingle from the crime scene to multiple locations as they attempted to evade police by switching vehicles several times. Authorities later recovered the murder weapons and clothing hidden in bags near Dingle’s home.
Ballistics testing showed two firearms were used, each responsible for five of the 10 shots fired. Bashaw’s DNA was found on the trigger of one of the guns, prosecutors said.
Jurors also heard a recorded jail call in which Bashaw admitted to the crime after his arrest. When a family member asked what he had done, Bashaw responded, “Murder,” according to prosecutors. When asked who he killed, he said he could not discuss it because the call was being monitored.
The jury convicted Bashaw on all counts after deliberating for less than an hour.
"Mr. Bashaw and his accomplice Mr. Dingle may have been bungling fools, but we should not lose sight of the fact that they are also cold-blooded executioners and our community is well served by imposition of life sentences to both," said Schenectady County DA Robert Carney.
Motive Tied To Prior Shooting
Authorities believe the killing may have been motivated by a non-fatal shooting that occurred earlier that month at the same State Street address. While Chisom was not believed to be the shooter in that incident, prosecutors said he may have been targeted because of his association with someone involved.
“Mr. Bashaw received a fair trial and overwhelming evidence proved his role in this assassination,” Carney said. “The sentence imposed ensures he will never again threaten public safety.”
Bashaw was sentenced as a persistent violent felony offender due to his criminal history, allowing the court to impose maximum, consecutive sentences.
The punishment includes 25 years to life for murder, additional life sentences for weapons possession, and prison time for tampering with evidence, all resulting in an aggregate sentence of 52 years to life.
Dingle, now 33, pleaded guilty before trial and was sentenced in October 2024 to 20 years to life in prison.
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