Local & State Headlines

Murder suspects search ongoing

• Two suspects named in the killing of a 22-year-old Albany man are still on the run, authorities say.

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — Despite developing two suspects and a mountain of leads and evidence, a murder investigation now into its sixth month has yet to yield any arrests, prompting detectives to use the media to help with the investigation.

For the last few weeks, radio commercials have hit the airwaves soliciting the public for their help in locating the two people police believe may have shot 22-year-old Cleveland Carter near the intersection of West Gordon Avenue and South Magnolia Street Feb. 14.

Phyllis Banks, the APD’s media liaison and the voice of the commercials, said that the commercials are just another way the department is working with the public to help solve crime.

“It’s an effort to reach out to radio stations and both Cumulus and Clear Channel have donated time for the spots,” Banks said. “It’s important to use any means that are available to assist detectives in solving crimes, especially of this nature.”

It’s not the first time Banks and the department have spread the word via the airwaves in helps of solving a case.

Detectives worked tirelessly to find the people who killed John Lewis Barbre, who died after being badly beaten outside the Tallulah Massey Library in East Albany earlier this year, but were forced to run spots on local radio stations after the case began to cool.

Although the response from the public after the spots aired was less that what the detectives had hoped for, Banks said that calls to both the department and Albany Crimestoppers did trickle in, proving that the spots helped.

Using good detective work, investigators were finally able to lodge charges against two men they believe were involved in the killing.

The Cleveland Carter case is admittedly different. In this case, the question isn’t who — as it was in the Barbre case — but where.

Just one day after Carter’s body was found in a car in an alleyway, investigators released the name of their prime suspect, Neil Adam Smith, and six days later, that of Yolanda Shakilla Cleveland, who they say was also involved in the shooting.

Since then, the department has concentrated its efforts to tracking the modern-day Bonnie and Clyde in hopes of bringing them to justice.

Banks says that the spots appear to be working. Calls and tips still trickle into the department and she says the case is still very much active.

“No matter how big or small the tip is, they look into it, because you never know where the tip may lead,” Banks said. “They’re still working hard on this case and all their cases to find justice.”

Once found, Smith and Cleveland each face charges of felony murder, aggravated assault and cruelty to a child.

Banks said that the department plans to also do spots soliciting the public’s help with information about the death of Susie Hollingsworth, who was found murdered at her Mock Road home. No suspects have been named in that case.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Smith or Cleveland should call the Albany Police Department at 431-2100 or leave an anonymous tip at Albany Crimestoppers at 436-TIPS.

Crimestoppers offers a possible reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to their arrest.

More Headlines>>