Two injured in Albany apartment shooting one day after Police Department collects 142 firearms at gun buyback

ALBANY – Albany Police are investigating a shooting that left two people injured Sunday night at an Albany Apartment complex. 

Police responded around 8:30 p.m. to the 509 North Apartments on North Westover Boulevard “in reference to a shooting incident.” When officers entered the location, they found a 21-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, both suffering from gunshot wounds. The woman suffered a wound to the leg and the man suffered a wound to the abdomen. Both victims were transported to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and are in stable condition, according to Albany Police Chief Michael Persley. 

Persley said the suspect has not been found or identified, but several videos captured the suspect fleeing the residence. 

During a search of the apartment, officers discovered evidence pointing to drug activity, including more than a pound of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a large sum of cash. The case has been turned over to APD’s Special Investigative Unit, and Persley said the incident was likely an attempted robbery of a location where marijuana was being distributed.

Persley couldn’t share the identities of the victims due to additional charges that may be filed. 

The APD chief added that incidents like this, and in recent, frequent local shooting incidents, often have deeper histories. 

“In the majority, especially lately, there has been a connection to where there was something previous that occurred,” he said. “Random … that’s rare. Not to say it doesn’t happen, but it’s rare. But mostly with these there’s a backstory to what occurred. At times … the backstory could have been something that happened two years ago.”

The department compared the circumstances to a previous Labor Day shooting at an Airbnb. 

“They were selling marijuana out of the house and those who showed up knew that and … there was going to be an attempted robbery until the persons inside … started shooting at the robbers,” Persley said.

The APD chief offered a broader warning about the illegal drug trade and fast money. 

“Everyone has their hustle; everyone has a way that they want to make money,” he said “But … the people who try to make money the quickest way, there are so many consequences and challenges that come with that. When you’re out here hustling and you think you’re doing what you’re doing and nobody knows, people know. And people will target you.”

This shooting occurred the same weekend the Albany Police Department held its annual gun buyback and community engagement events, which Persley said drew significant local participation.

He reported that APD collected 142 firearms and 21 pounds of old and unwanted prescription medication Saturday.

Community members also gathered for a long-table community event aimed at strengthening relationships and discussing neighborhood needs. 

“Residents were able to sit down together … and engage in meaningful conversations and … share their ideas about what we can do to continue to work and to strengthen and uplift Albany,” Persley said.

He emphasized that this is “just the beginning of several” upcoming community initiatives, and he said the community table talk introduced a possible resurgence in community neighborhood watch programs. 

Persley reported that the gun buyback brought in a range of firearms, including modified weapons. A “very common” fully functioning, semi-automatic Draco pistol was turned in, along with Glocks where the firing pin and mechanism had been altered, turning them into semi-automatic or automatic weapons. One person turned in a “ghost gun,” which is a firearm that isn’t properly registered or trackable, often 3-D printed or otherwise assembled by the owner. 

Processing the turned-in firearms began Monday. Persley said the process will take a few weeks. Those guns found to be stolen will be returned to the owner if the owner can be reached. Others will be destroyed. Those that are found to have been used in crimes will have a court order signed by a judge and will be preserved as court evidence. 

Persley stressed that destroyed weapons will not return to circulation.

Despite ongoing challenges with violent crime and drug-related robberies, police say engagement and prevention remain key. 

“One event does not change everything, but when you’re able to engage with people … whenever we can pull off any kind of community event and get the feedback that we got from that, then that was a good event,” he said.