Police: Anti-violence advocate arrested in connection with Cohoes homicide

Police in Cohoes are now confirming the man arrested for allegedly firing a gun last week is being charged in connection to last Friday’s homicide.

Dontie Mitchell has been charged with reckless endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon. He is currently being held at the Albany County Correctional Facility.

Earlier this summer, Mitchell did two interviews with NewsChannel 13 to talk about his youth program, Money Gang Youth Group.

He started the new program to keep at-risks kids out of trouble and was disturbed by recent violence in Albany, Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s arrest comes just days after Shieer Leggett died in a shooting at the intersection of Main and Schuyler streets in Cohoes, according to officials.

At this time, Cohoes Police are releasing limited information regarding the homicide case.

More charges are likely for Mitchell and other arrests are being made quickly, Police Chief Todd Waldin said.