Jury has case of self-proclaimed anti-violence advocate charged with attempted murder

Deliberations will resume Monday in the case of the self-proclaimed anti-violence activist charged with attempted murder.

Dontie Mitchell is charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon in a shooting in Cohoes on Aug. 11, 2023 that resulted in the death of Shieer Leggett. 

Closing arguments wrapped up at around 3:15 p.m. in Albany County Court and the jury was given the case at 4:15 p.m. The jury deliberated for about one hour, which included asking to hear the definition of the weapons possession charge again, before being dismissed for the day.

Mitchell testified that he had started two membership organizations to prevent youth violence and try to develop young men into responsible citizens. He said he kept close tabs on these youths and considered himself a father figure to some of them.

Mitchell told the jury that he went to the area of 125 Main St. that night because he was concerned two youths he was mentoring was hanging out with members of the Bloods gang.

He said he found a gun in the car, and he brought it with him to the scene because he didn’t want to leave it unsecured. Another youth was with him in the car.

The group was hanging outside a convenience store. He alleged that one of the men, Nalik Sealey, pulled a gun.

The case relied heavily on surveillance footage, which shows Mitchell walking up on the sidewalk and talking to one of the youths. The youth walks away and does not want to come with Mitchell. 

Sealey then comes up to Mitchell and the two men talk. 

Sealey repeatedly says that he is with the Bloods and they control this street. 

After a few minutes, Mitchell fires a gun. The other men run away. Mitchell takes a position next to a tow truck. Sealey is near a corner and returns fire. Leggett, who is standing in between the two men, is hit by a bullet from Sealey’s gun.

Sealey pleaded guilty in July to manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon in the death of Shieer Leggett. He is awaiting sentencing.

During her closing arguments, defense attorney Rebekah Sokol, said her client was in fear for his life when Sealey and the other men approached.

“We watched as this group surrounded him like jackals,” she said.

Sealey was repeating that the whole street is controlled by the Bloods.

Mitchell testified he saw Sealey reaching for a gun. He took cover and fired a shot behind him as a warning shot. 

“Dontie Mitchell in that moment thought if he didn’t do something, if he didn’t use the gun he found in the car, he would have died,” she said. 

The video shows several shots fired. Sealey runs away and then returns fire and hit Leggett.

“Nalik Sealey keeps shooting even after his friend is dying in front of him,” she said.

Witnesses all testified that Mitchell pulled his gun first and fired first.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis said in her closing arguments that Mitchell fired multiple shots in the direction of the men, who are all running away.

“The kids he’s telling you he’s so concerned about. The kids he says he’s going there to save. He’s firing at them,” Blain-Lewis said. 

Blain-Lewis said Mitchell gets off four shots before anyone returns fire. He also changed positions.

“He’s moving to the side. He’s positioning himself, getting a better location so he can continue to fire,” Blain-Lewis said.

Prosecutors also noted that Mitchell dressed all in black with a ski mask – unusual for summer. There was testimony from youths that said he was wearing a jeans earlier in the day.

Mitchell was the defense’s only witness. 

On cross-examination, Blain-Lewis asked if he called police after the incident. He said no.

Blain-Lewis asked Mitchell why he took it upon himself to go see if the youth was going to join a gang. 

“You decided to go to Cohoes and get involved in decisions he’s allowed to make,” she said.

Mitchell said he was doing an intervention. 

Blain-Lewis zeroed in on the fact that there was an entry in the books of his organization for “services rendered.”

She asked if he had youths hold drugs for him.

“That’s not true,” he responded.

She also asked Mitchell if he paid one of the members for sex. Mitchell testified before the grand jury that he had a consensual sexual relationship with one of these young men he was mentoring.

Blain-Lewis urged the jury not to get distracted by other things in this case. Shieer Leggett died in a gun battle.

“I submit to you that that gun battle was caused and started by Dontie Mitchell,” she said.

Deliberations will resume at 9:15 a.m. Monday.