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Albany County resident Sean Pacheco, age 40, of Watervliet, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of John Welcome in Albany County Court on Monday, Dec. 5.
Welcome was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso at around 2 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2021, near Central and North Lake avenues in Albany, police said.
He later died at Albany Medical Center Hospital.
Police later said the shooting was not a random act of violence and appeared to be a dispute between two acquaintances.
In addition to the murder chare, Pacheco pleaded guilty to one count of criminal possession of a weapon, a violent felony.
He also copped to one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia after police found him with cocaine at a home in Watervliet.
Pacheco faces between 18 years and life in prison when he’s sentenced in February 2023.
At the time of his death, Welcome was working as a security guard at the Schuyler Inn homeless shelter in Menands, according to his obituary.
He left behind a wife and daughter, as well as an unborn son, his memorial said.
"Johnny was loved by many, he was known for always greeting you with a smile," reads his obituary.
"He was the life of the party and will be truly missed."
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