ALBANY, N.Y. (WRGB) — In response to a recent surge in youth violence, Albany lawmakers and leaders are set to host a community conversation on public safety. The meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, follows a series of violent incidents involving teenagers and children as young as 10.
The city has been on edge since a chaotic Fourth of July weekend, which saw a 15-year-old shot in the foot after the Empire State Plaza fireworks show. Later that night, a fight among teenagers resulted in a 17-year-old being fatally shot in the head. A flare gun fired during the altercation struck a home on Madison Avenue, causing a fire that left the residence a total loss. Gunfire from a group of teenagers on Livingston Avenue injured five people around 1 a.m.
Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox emphasized the need to address underlying issues contributing to the violence…