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New Details: Suspect Killed Himself After Shooting Officer In Region, Chief Says New Details: Suspect Killed Himself After Shooting Officer In Region, Chief Says
New Details: Suspect Killed Himself After Shooting Officer In Region, Chief Says New details have emerged following a police shooting in the region that left the suspect dead and the officer hospitalized. The incident happened at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, in Albany’s Pine Hills neighborhood, just yards from the College of Saint Rose campus. Albany Police said an officer was “ambushed” near the intersection of North Main and Western avenues after catching up to a vehicle that had fled a traffic stop for speeding. Earlier Report: Albany Cop Hurt, Suspect Killed Near College Of Saint Rose As the officer approached the parked car, now unoccupied, the s…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Impaired Teen Who Killed Honors Student In High-Speed Area Crash Sentenced Impaired Teen Who Killed Honors Student In High-Speed Area Crash Sentenced
Impaired Teen Who Killed Honors Student In High-Speed Area Crash Sentenced An unlicensed teen who was drunk and high when he crashed a stolen car at more than 100 miles per hour, killing a beloved honors student in the region, is heading to prison. Caleb Maya, age 17, of Albany, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison in Albany County Court on Friday, March 29.  It followed his guilty plea to second-degree manslaughter in the death of 14-year-old A’Mon Willis, of Albany. Earlier Report: Support Rises For 14-Year-Old 'Beautiful Soul' Killed In Alleged Drunk Driving Crash In Colonie The wreck happened just after 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, in Albany…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Man Beat Friend To Death During Fight At Area Home, DA Says Man Beat Friend To Death During Fight At Area Home, DA Says
Man Beat Friend To Death During Fight At Area Home, DA Says Prosecutors have filed formal charges against a man accused of beating his friend to death during a fight in the region. Albany resident Keron Payne, age 34, was arraigned on one count of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree manslaughter in Albany County Court on Monday, March 25. Police were called at around 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, for an unconscious man inside an Albany residence on Clinton Avenue near Henry Johnson Boulevard. Earlier Report: 30-Year-Old Man Killed In Fight With Friend At Albany Home, Police Say The victim, identified as 30-year-old Jieshi Will…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Deadly Stabbing: New Details Released In Man's Killing At Home In Region Deadly Stabbing: New Details Released In Man's Killing At Home In Region
Deadly Stabbing: New Details Released In Man's Killing At Home In Region New details have emerged in the case of a 44-year-old man accused of stabbing his brother-in-law to death at a home in the region. Ashley Heshmat, of Albany, pleaded not guilty to a seven-count indictment including second-degree murder in Albany County Court on Wednesday, Jan. 24, in the death of Justin Bishop. Albany Police were called at around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, for a welfare check at a residence on Rose Court. Earlier Report: Man Murders 48-Year-Old Found Inside Albany Home, Police Say The caller told dispatchers that Bishop, who lived at the home with Heshmat, hadn’t…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Gunman Nabbed In Killing Of 23-Year-Old In Region Who Testified Against Abusive BF, Police Say Gunman Nabbed In Killing Of 23-Year-Old In Region Who Testified Against Abusive BF, Police Say
Gunman Nabbed In Killing Of 23-Year-Old In Region Who Testified Against Abusive BF, Police Say Police have arrested a suspect in the killing of a 23-year-old New York woman who was shot to death on Christmas morning after cooperating in her boyfriend’s attempted murder trial. Michael Varlack, age 36, of Albany was arraigned on murder and related charges in Albany County Court on Wednesday, Jan. 17, in the death of Sky Lemmons-Dixon. The young woman was found inside her State Street residence on Monday morning, Dec. 25, with a single gunshot wound to her head, according to Albany Police. Earlier Report: 'A Woman With Dreams': Albany 23-Year-Old Shot To Death After Testifying A…

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by Michael Mashburn
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'Cowardly Crime': Face Slashing, Porch Shooting Nets Area Ex-Con Decades In Prison 'Cowardly Crime': Face Slashing, Porch Shooting Nets Area Ex-Con Decades In Prison
'Cowardly Crime': Face Slashing, Porch Shooting Nets Area Ex-Con Decades In Prison An ex-convict from the region is going back to prison for shooting a woman through her window and slashing a second victim in the face. Raheem Hines, age 46, of Albany, was sentenced to 25 years behind bars in Albany County Court on Friday, Jan. 12, after pleading guilty to attempted murder and related charges. According to prosecutors, Hines admitted to slashing a woman in the face on Central Avenue in Albany in August 2021. The attack left the victim with serious injuries. He also confessed to attempting to kill a second woman by shooting her through a porch window as she was inside her …

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by Michael Mashburn
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'Left Her To Die': Man From Region Sentenced For Setting Woman On Fire, Burning Second 'Left Her To Die': Man From Region Sentenced For Setting Woman On Fire, Burning Second
'Left Her To Die': Man From Region Sentenced For Setting Woman On Fire, Burning Second A man from the region may spend the rest of his life behind bars for trying to kill a woman by setting her on fire and seriously burning a second victim. Houston Ketter, age 41, of Albany, was sentenced to 50 years in prison in Albany County Court on Tuesday, Dec. 19, after a jury found him guilty of attempted murder. According to the district attorney’s office, Ketter “acted in an especially cruel and wanton manner” when he set Kari Rouse on fire near Bradford and Robin streets in Albany on Nov. 13, 2022. Earlier Report - ‘Especially Cruel’: Man Set Woman On Fire, Burned Second In Alban…

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by Michael Mashburn
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$28K Theft: Home Health Aide From Region Admits Stealing From Dementia Patient $28K Theft: Home Health Aide From Region Admits Stealing From Dementia Patient
$28K Theft: Home Health Aide From Region Admits Stealing From Dementia Patient A home health aide from the region has admitted stealing thousands of dollars from her patient. Rensselaer County resident Lakeisha Stewart, age 43, of Rensselaer, pleaded guilty to attempted grand larceny in Albany County Court on Friday, Dec. 1. Stewart admitted that between January and February 2023, she cashed several checks from the victim’s account while working as their home health aide. The victim was diagnosed with dementia and was unable to consent to the payments, prosecutors said. Altogether, Stewart stole approximately $28,500 from the victim. She faces up to six months in j…

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by Michael Mashburn
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$138K Scam: Contractor Skips Town After Taking Cash From Area Homeowner, Police Say $138K Scam: Contractor Skips Town After Taking Cash From Area Homeowner, Police Say
$138K Scam: Contractor Skips Town After Taking Cash From Area Homeowner, Police Say A construction contractor is facing charges after allegedly scamming a homeowner in the region out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Michael Matteo, age 57, of Albany, was arraigned in Albany County Court on Thursday, Oct. 19. According to Albany Police, the victim reached out to investigators in August 2023 saying they had paid Matteo for construction work that was never completed. An investigation found that Matteo received nearly $140,000 between June 2022 and January 2023 to renovate a home in Albany. Matteo accepted the payments, but never finished the project, police said. He i…

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by Michael Mashburn
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$50K Theft Spree: 28-Year-Old Who Stole Merchandise From Area Mall Lands In Prison $50K Theft Spree: 28-Year-Old Who Stole Merchandise From Area Mall Lands In Prison
$50K Theft Spree: 28-Year-Old Who Stole Merchandise From Area Mall Lands In Prison A 28-year-old man will spend years in prison after admitting to a string of thefts at a shopping mall in the region. Pashton Rifiqie, of Schenectady, was sentenced to four to 12 years behind bars in Albany County Court on Thursday, Sept. 7. It followed his guilty plea to a felony charge of possessing stolen property. According to prosecutors, Rifiqie stole a total of $9,000 worth of merchandise from the Colonie Center Mall after targeting mall kiosks on three different occasions in June 2022. Police later found him with over $50,000 worth of stolen property in February 2023. In addition …

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by Michael Mashburn
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Woman Admits Stabbing Passenger Aboard Transit Bus In Region Woman Admits Stabbing Passenger Aboard Transit Bus In Region
Woman Admits Stabbing Passenger Aboard Transit Bus In Region A 31-year-old woman is facing years in prison after admitting that she stabbed a passenger aboard a transit bus in the region. Keionna Hood, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty in connection with the attack in Albany County Court on Tuesday, Aug. 29. According to the district attorney’s office, Hood was aboard a CDTA bus in Colonie on May 1, 2023 when the bus stopped at a gas station on Central Avenue. She admitted to stabbing another passenger with a knife, injuring the person. The extent of the victim’s injuries was not immediately clear, and investigators did not speculate on a possible mot…

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by Michael Mashburn
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'Heinous Crime': Man Who Raped 10-Year-Old At Area Home Gets Decades In Prison 'Heinous Crime': Man Who Raped 10-Year-Old At Area Home Gets Decades In Prison
'Heinous Crime': Man Who Raped 10-Year-Old At Area Home Gets Decades In Prison A 70-year-old man from the region could spend the rest of his life behind bars for raping a young child. Albany County resident Eric Edwards, of Watervliet, was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Albany County Court on Thursday, Aug. 17. It followed his jury conviction for first-degree rape in June 2023. According to prosecutors, Edwards raped a 10-year-old child at a home on 4th Avenue in Watervliet in February 2020. The child was known to him. “While no prison time will restore the innocence stolen from this child, the maximum was the only sentence appropriate for this heinous crime,” s…

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by Michael Mashburn
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22-Year-Old Sold Fentanyl To Area Man Who Died From Overdose, Police Say 22-Year-Old Sold Fentanyl To Area Man Who Died From Overdose, Police Say
22-Year-Old Sold Fentanyl To Area Man Who Died From Overdose, Police Say Six months after a 26-year-old man from the region died from a drug overdose, the dealer who allegedly sold him the drugs is facing charges. Schenectady resident Reuben Sangster, age 22, was arrested Wednesday, May 17, on suspicion of criminally negligent homicide, according to Watervliet Police. Investigators said Sangster sold fentanyl to the victim not long before the man was found dead from an overdose in the bedroom of a Watervliet home on Nov. 8, 2022. Fentanyl is a powerful, synthetic opioid that is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine and has contributed to a spike in overdose d…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Gunman Who Killed Father Of 2, Security Guard In Region Gets 25 Years Gunman Who Killed Father Of 2, Security Guard In Region Gets 25 Years
Gunman Who Killed Father Of 2, Security Guard In Region Gets 25 Years More than a year after a 35-year-old security guard and father of two from the region was shot to death, his killer is heading to prison. Albany County resident Sean Pacheco, age 40, of Watervliet, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in Albany County Court on Wednesday, April 19. Earlier Report: Gunman Pleads Guilty In Shooting Death Of Security Guard, Father Of 2 In Albany It followed his guilty plea to multiple charges, including second-degree murder, in the November 2021 killing of John Welcome in Albany. Welcome was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso at aro…

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by Michael Mashburn
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21-Year-Old Accused Of Setting Fire To Home Near College In Region Pleads Not Guilty 21-Year-Old Accused Of Setting Fire To Home Near College In Region Pleads Not Guilty
21-Year-Old Accused Of Setting Fire To Home Near College In Region Pleads Not Guilty A 21-year-old woman accused of setting fire to an occupied home near a college in the region is formally denying any wrongdoing. Allexus Pecoraro, of Erieville in Madison County, pleaded not guilty to an eight-count arson indictment in Albany County Court on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Firefighters in Albany were called at around 7:30 a.m. on May 8, 2022 with reports that a home was on fire near the College of Saint Rose, on Hudson Avenue near Ontario Street, according to Albany Police. The fire destroyed one home and damaged two others, along with three vehicles that were parked nearby. One per…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Teacher Who Hid Camera In Bathroom Of NY School Sentenced: 'Egregious Betrayal Of Trust' Teacher Who Hid Camera In Bathroom Of NY School Sentenced: 'Egregious Betrayal Of Trust'
Teacher Who Hid Camera In Bathroom Of NY School Sentenced: 'Egregious Betrayal Of Trust' A former middle school teacher in New York is heading to prison after admitting that he hid a camera inside a staff bathroom at the school where taught. Albany County resident Patrick Morgan, age 58, of the Town of Colonie, was sentenced to an indeterminate term of two to six years behind bars in Albany County Court on Thursday, Feb. 2. Earlier Report: 'An Egregious Betrayal Of Trust': NY Teacher Admits To Hiding Camera In Staff Bathroom It came months after Morgan, a former fifth-grade teacher at Sand Creek Middle School in Colonie, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree unlawful s…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Culprit In 22-Year-Old's Stabbing Death In Region Sentenced: 'Another Blow In Black Community' Culprit In 22-Year-Old's Stabbing Death In Region Sentenced: 'Another Blow In Black Community'
Culprit In 22-Year-Old's Stabbing Death In Region Sentenced: 'Another Blow In Black Community' Nearly three years after a 22-year-old man was fatally stabbed during a street fight in the region, his killer is heading to prison. Darius Cokely, age 23, of Albany, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison in Albany County Court on Wednesday, Feb. 1. It followed his jury conviction for second-degree murder in the killing of Maurice Skeen. Prosecutors said Cokely and Skeen got into a fight on March 18, 2020 near Madison and New Scotland avenues in Albany, south of Washington Park. The altercation was sparked by comments that Skeen’s cousin had allegedly made on Facebook, the Alban…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Man From Area Admits Sharing Child Porn Depicting 10-Year-Old Man From Area Admits Sharing Child Porn Depicting 10-Year-Old
Man From Area Admits Sharing Child Porn Depicting 10-Year-Old A man from the region is facing years in prison after admitting that he shared sexually explicit images of a child. Jonathan Waters, age 38, of Albany, pleaded guilty to one count of promoting a sexual performance by a child Tuesday, Jan. 10, in Albany County Court. Prosecutors said Waters possessed a video depicting a 10-year-old child engaging in sexual acts. He later uploaded the video to a peer-to-peer file sharing service. Waters now faces up to three years in prison followed by ten years of post-release supervision when he’s sentenced on Thursday, March 9.  He will also be req…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Gunman Admits To Killing 51-Year-Old Found Inside Car In Region Gunman Admits To Killing 51-Year-Old Found Inside Car In Region
Gunman Admits To Killing 51-Year-Old Found Inside Car In Region Nearly two years after a 51-year-old man was found shot to death inside a car in the region, his accused killer has confessed to the crime. Damien McCaskey, age 28, of Troy, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in Albany County Court on Friday, Jan. 6, in connection to the shooting death of Danny Pearson, Jr. Albany Police officers found Pearson behind the wheel of a car near Lexington Avenue and 1st Street at around 8:20 p.m. on Monday, May 10, 2021. He was later pronounced dead from a gunshot wound at a hospital. Danny Pearson, Jr. was shot to death inside a car near Lexingt…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Gunman Pleads Guilty In Shooting Death Of Security Guard, Father Of 2 In Region Gunman Pleads Guilty In Shooting Death Of Security Guard, Father Of 2 In Region
Gunman Pleads Guilty In Shooting Death Of Security Guard, Father Of 2 In Region More than a year after a 35-year-old security guard was fatally shot in the region, his killer has admitted responsibility. 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. John Welcome was shot to death at the age of 35 near Central and North Lake avenues in Al…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Suspected Gunman Charged In Killing Of Rashad Nicholson In Region Suspected Gunman Charged In Killing Of Rashad Nicholson In Region
Suspected Gunman Charged In Killing Of Rashad Nicholson In Region More than a year after a 30-year-old man was shot and killed in the region, the suspected gunman has been hit with formal charges. Nicholas Anderson, age 28, of Albany, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Rashad Nicholson in Albany County Court on Monday, Nov. 28. Prosecutors said Anderson intentionally caused Nicholson’s death when he shot him near Third and Oak streets in Albany on Saturday, July 24, 2021. Rashad Nicholson, age 30, was shot to death near Third and Oak streets in Albany on Saturday, July 24, 2021.Albany County District Attorney's Office Medics …

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by Michael Mashburn
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Man Pleads Guilty In Killing Of 15-Year-Old From Region Remembered As 'Beacon Of Light' Man Pleads Guilty In Killing Of 15-Year-Old From Region Remembered As 'Beacon Of Light'
Man Pleads Guilty In Killing Of 15-Year-Old From Region Remembered As 'Beacon Of Light' More than a year after a 15-year-old New York girl was gunned down during a robbery, a man has pleaded guilty in her killing. Branden Rivera, age 20, of Albany, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree attempted murder in the death of Destiny Greene Thursday, Nov. 17, in Albany County Court. Greene, a sophomore at Latham’s Shaker High School, was shot at around 9 p.m. Monday, May 24, 2021, near Wilbur and Philip streets in Albany, according to police. She later died from her injuries at Albany Memorial Hospital. According to prosecutors, Rivera shot the teen while robbing her during a…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Police Chief Blames NY's Bail Reform Law For 'Serial Intoxicated Driver' Busted 3 Months In Row Police Chief Blames NY's Bail Reform Law For 'Serial Intoxicated Driver' Busted 3 Months In Row
Police Chief Blames NY's Bail Reform Law For 'Serial Intoxicated Driver' Busted 3 Months In Row A New York police chief is blasting the state’s bail reform laws, claiming they are directly to blame for a repeat DWI offender who was arrested three times in just as many months. Albany County resident Brandon McKinley, age 42, of Watervliet, was sentenced to an aggregate term of three to nine years in prison in Albany County Court Tuesday, Nov. 15. The sentence followed his September 2022 guilty plea to three counts of driving while intoxicated, a felony. According to prosecutors, McKinley was stopped by Watervliet Police on three separate occasions in May, June, and July 2022. During e…

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by Michael Mashburn
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'An Egregious Betrayal Of Trust': Teacher In Region Admits To Hiding Camera In Staff Bathroom 'An Egregious Betrayal Of Trust': Teacher In Region Admits To Hiding Camera In Staff Bathroom
'An Egregious Betrayal Of Trust': Teacher In Region Admits To Hiding Camera In Staff Bathroom A New York middle school teacher is facing years in prison after admitting that he hid a camera inside of a staff bathroom. Albany County resident Patrick Morgan, age 58, of Colonie, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree unlawful surveillance Friday, Nov. 4, in Albany County court. Prosecutors said Morgan, a fifth-grade teacher at Sand Creek Middle School in the Town of Colonie, installed a camera in the staff bathroom in February 2022 with the intent to use the recordings for sexual gratification. Colonie Police began investigating after the camera, which was disguised as a phone…

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by Michael Mashburn
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Teen Sentenced In Stolen Car Chase That Killed 13-Year-Old In Region Teen Sentenced In Stolen Car Chase That Killed 13-Year-Old In Region
Teen Sentenced In Stolen Car Chase That Killed 13-Year-Old In Region A 16-year-old girl is heading to prison for leading a stolen car chase in New York that killed a 13-year-old boy.  The teen, whose name was not released due to her age, was sentenced to 2 to 6 years behind bars Thursday, Oct. 6, in Albany County court. Earlier Report: 16-Year-Old Girl Charged In Stolen Car Chase That Killed Albany Teen It followed her August 2022 guilty plea to second-degree manslaughter in the death of 13-year-old Tea’Shawn Walker, of Albany, in April 2022. Investigators said the girl was behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle that fled from Albany police when of…

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by Michael Mashburn