Shooting deaths continue to rise in Albany, and our most recent victim was a 19-year-old man who was shot Monday night.  According to Albany Police Public Information Officer Steve Smith, a 19-year-old man was shot on Moore Street near Saint George Palace just before 10 p.m.

The 19-year-old was shot in the arm and the torso. He was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.

Earlier in the day, an unnamed 17-year-old boy was shot and killed around 2 p.m. while sitting in a car on Southern Boulevard with a man.

Albany Police Chief, Eric Hawkins, indicated that the two men sitting in the car were not random victims, but they were targeted. Chief Hawkins said, “the two people that were shot were targeted, and we can make some assumptions that this is another case of individuals who know each other, had some sort of feud, using violence as a way of resolving conflict.”

Officers are not sure if the two separate shootings are somehow connected.  Anyone with information is asked to call the Albany Police Detective Division at (518) 462-8039.  Tips can also be made anonymously by going to Capital Region Crime Stoppers online or by downloading the free P3 Tips Mobile app.

As we’ve indicated before, this has been an extremely, uncharacteristically violent summer. We are asking police to be less violent with us, but we have got to take some accountability for the violence that we inflict upon one another. I’m not saying, what about “black on black crime?”.  What I’m saying is that we, as a community, have to begin to hold one another accountable.  We have to make sure that our young people know how to resolve conflicts without killing each other.

We need to go back to being our brothers’ keepers. There should be a thorough investigation into all of this violence because I am convinced some of the killings are in retaliation for other violent events. More importantly, these shootings can and should be prevented. Be careful and let’s spread love and peace throughout the Capital Region.

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