Family of Columbia County man shot by police holds candlelight vigil

The family of a Columbia County man shot and killed by police gathered Saturday for a vigil in his honor.

James Dellea, of Hillsdale, was shot by police in Saratoga County on Sept. 11. He had been threatening to harm himself and led police a low-speed chase that went from the Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Route 9 in Malta to the parking lot of Bethel Saratoga Church. After refusing commands to get out of the car, Dellea used a gun to break car windows and was shot, according to a report released by the Attorney General’s Office.

The vigil began at 6 p.m. in Copake Park where family and friends of James Dellea gathered and lit candles to remember James. There was also a moment of silence for James Dellea during the vigil.

During the candlelight part of the vigil there was music played and then people shared memories of James.

“He meant a lot of things to a lot of people, and everyone is lost without him. So, it’s hard. It’s hard to deal with not having him here. The community is missing him,” said James’s wife.

Dellea’s family spoke with NewsChannel 13 before the service, and they said they want justice for James.

“We’re trying to raise awareness for mental, mental illness issues. We’re trying to get justice for our father. We want his name out there, and people need to know what happened to him. They need to know that this was not okay. The proper protocol was not followed. And he deserves justice in his name,” said Samantha Dellea, James’s daughter.

Dellea was a local stock car driver. His sister told NewsChannel 13’s Dan Levy previously that he had experienced multiple personal tragedies over the past three years, losing both parents, two siblings, and his day-old grandson.