A self-proclaimed anti-violence activist, Dontie Mitchell was found not guilty of attempted murder in connection with a Cohoes shooting in August 2023.

His attorney, Rebekah Sokol said they are both relieved.

“This was the result that need to happen.”

However, Dontie Mitchell will still face jail time. He was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon for the Aug. 11, 2023 shooting. Sentencing is February 13.

Prosecutors said Mitchell went to the area of 125 Main St. to confront a group of people. Mitchell had testified that he was concerned two of the youths he mentored was hanging out with people affiliated with the Bloods gang.

Mitchell had fired at Nalik Sealy and Sealy had fired back. Shieer Leggett was killed by a bullet from Sealy’s gun.

Leggett was not an intended target. He was caught in the crosshairs.

Mitchell had claimed self-defense.

“The possession of the gun seems relatively straight forward. It’s the use of that weapon that then becomes the question – the ultimate question for the jury to decide,” Blain-Lewis said.

This case relied heavily on surveillance video of the shooting incident.

“At the end of the day, what mattered was in that minute and 20 second clip. Whether or not Dontie felt like Sealy was going to kill him in that moment. The jury agreed with us,” Sokol said.

Assistant District Attorney, Jessica Blain-Lewis said she respects the decision from the jury. However, Blain-Lewis does not want people to forget the case started because a young man died from gun violence.

“This was a shootout on the street in the City of Cohoes. It’s an unfortunate situation where an individual lost their life but the law is what the law is. The jury worked through it.”

Closing arguments were held on Friday, and the jury received the case at around 4:15 p.m. after a weeklong trial.

The jury on Monday had asked to hear the definition of the attempted murder charge around 10:45 a.m.. It informed Albany County Court Judge Andra Ackerman at 11:39 a.m. that they had reached a verdict.

Mitchell was sent to Albany County Jail without bail.