A 15-year-old boy is facing criminal charges after accidentally shooting himself in the leg early Monday (March 30) in Albany. Police responded to a home on Lark Street near Orange Street around 2 a.m., where they found the teen with a gunshot wound. Emergency responders treated him at the scene before transporting him to Albany Medical Center, where he was last listed in stable condition, according to Officer Megan Craft of the Albany Police Department.
Investigators determined the gunshot was self-inflicted and charged the teen with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree reckless endangerment. The teen will be arraigned in Albany County Family Court at a later date. A 16-year-old boy who was present during the incident was also arrested and charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He has already been arraigned in family court, as reported by WNYT.
This incident marks the fourth time a minor has been shot in Albany since late February. City officials, including Mayor Dorcey Applyrs, have highlighted growing concerns about youth violence and are working with police leadership to develop prevention strategies. Zipporah Hommel, a spokesperson for the mayor, said, “There’s really a sense of urgency here,” emphasizing that the city is prioritizing violence prevention, especially as warmer weather approaches…