Albany Police confirm man on video person of interest in shooting

Albany Police have confirmed that the person seen running away in surveillance video obtained by NewsChannel 13 is a person of interest in the Delaware Avene shooting.

The shooting happened Tuesday afternoon outside a Stewart’s Shops. The victim, 21-year-old Davyjian Grier, was having a verbal dispute with the gunman. The suspect fired multiple shots through the car windows and then took off on foot.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Albany Police at 518-462-8039.

The daytime shooting has outraged the community.

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple urged residents in a Facebook post not to “become desensitized by these heinous acts of violence.”

He said the agency would be implementing new anti-crime strategies.

“But again we need help from the community. If you hear or see something please alert local authorities. But you can expect to see more of us in the capital city!” Apple wrote.

Albany County District Attorney David Soares, who recently lost a Democratic primary for re-election, also weighed in on the case. He said that the state needs to fix the Raise the Age law, which he says has allowed 16- and 17-year-olds to commit violent crimes and then have their cases resolved in family court.

“When violent felonies go to family court, the teens involved often end up back on the street within hours, and they frequently re-offend. To stop this cycle, our office MUST be allowed to hold dangerous people accountable,” he said.

Albany County Legislature Minority Leader Frank Mauriello called on Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins to resign, citing the violent incidents like this one and the shooting of six teens on July 4 in the Pine Hills neighborhood. Mauriello also criticized Hawkins’ blaming violence on youth violence on large gatherings.