3 plead not guilty to Albany July 4 shootings, fire

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Three people pleaded not guilty during their arraignment in Albany County Court on Friday to charges in connection with two shootings and a fire in downtown Albany on July 4. The Albany County District Attorney's Office said two teens are charged with the shooting and fire on Madison Avenue, and Savion Wimberly, 24, of Albany, is charged with the shooting on Livingston Avenue.

The DA's Office said the two teens accused of the Madison Avenue shooting and fire remain in the Capital District Juvenile Secure Detention Center, and Wimberly remains in Albany County Jail following their arraignments. The investigation is still ongoing, and additional charges will be pursued, according to officials.

After the Empire State Plaza July 4 fireworks display, police responded to 333 Madison Ave. for a reported apartment building fire and shooting. Police arrived at the scene to find the building engulfed in flames and four people with gunshot wounds.

Albany Police Department detectives said the two teens were fighting when one of them fired a handgun, and the other fired a flare gun, which allegedly started the fire. On July 17, a 17-year-old victim of the Madison Avenue shooting succumbed to their injuries.

Charges

16-year-old (flare gun)

• Second-degree attempted murder
• First-degree attempted assault
• Fourth-degree arson

15-year-old (handgun)

• Second-degree attempted murder
• First-degree assault
• Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon
• Tampering with physical evidence

Savion Wimberly

• Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon
• Tampering with evidence

Wimberly is accused of shooting five people who were sitting outside a home on Livingston Avenue around 1 a.m. He was arrested during a search warrant on First Avenue near North Swan Street.

“This incident had a profound impact on the people that live in and visit this city,” Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said. “No one should be picking up a gun to ‘solve’ any of their problems, and the fact that this implicates our youth is even more concerning. This was senseless violence that affected thousands of people who were enjoying the July 4 Holiday.”