In the heart of New York’s capital city, Albany, a long-standing feud reached a tragic climax, resulting in the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect. Identified for his age, the adolescent was taken into custody on Monday, suspected of killing a young man named Naheim Burbridge, 21, with whom he had a reported dispute. This incident marks the 12th homicide in Albany thus far in 2023.
The crime scene, a Morton Avenue bodega, was witness to the fatal events on Saturday night. The juvenile suspect, as yet unnamed, was recognized in a building security camera image by an Albany juvenile unit officer following the shooting. Upon confrontation, the teenager allegedly identified himself, stating to a detective, “I’m the one you’re looking for.”
What specifically ignited the fatal confrontation remains unclear. Police reports state that the adolescent allegedly fired a 9 mm handgun into the torso of Burbridge, who staggered out of the store and collapsed on a sidewalk. Officers found him unresponsive just after 7 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Times Union.
Both the suspect and victim were residents of Albany, living approximately a mile apart. The accused resided in his stepfather’s apartment on Leonard Place, close to William S. Hackett High School on Delaware Avenue, while Burbridge lived on Plum Street in the city’s South End. The shooting occurred at a midway point between the two residences, at the Nas Deli & Grocery.
The suspect’s history includes previous run-ins with law enforcement, including an incident in 2020 where he and several other adolescents allegedly assaulted someone and stole their shoes. His stepfather indicated that the teenager had “anger issues.” Despite pleas from the suspect’s mother to allow a psychiatric evaluation while under the jurisdiction of the Family Court or in detention centers, he received little in the way of meaningful treatment or counseling.
Further reading:
- Miami-Dade shooting at South Dixie Highway Walmart leaves one dead and two wounded
- Los Blancos de Troya leader El Boto allegedly orders fatal shooting in Morelia shopping mall
- Bodies of Michael and Patricia Zaccario discovered in nursing home shooting at CareOne at Wellington, Bergen County
In a disturbing parallel, a 19-year-old Hispanic teenager was arrested in Chicago last week for the “random” murder of a Guatemalan immigrant sleeping in a park in Manhattan (NYC). The young man reportedly confessed to police that he had intended to kill “the first person he saw,” fueled by a dispute with his girlfriend.
It’s crucial to remember that all charges are only accusations, and those accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
For those seeking help:
Dial 988 or 1.888.NYCWELL(1.888.692.9355). Text “WELL” to 65173. For more information, visit https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/.