WATERVLIET — Two juvenile males ages 15 and 16 have been arrested following an investigation into two shooting incidents that occurred on June 24 and June 28, the Watervliet Police Department announced.
On Friday, June 28 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Watervliet police officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1800 block of 7th Avenue.
A 15-year-old male was located with injuries and transported to a local hospital.
Medical staff were unable to confirm whether the injuries were consistent with a gunshot wound.
Both the victim and witnesses refused to cooperate or provide any information about how the injuries occurred or who may have been responsible, despite efforts from detectives.
As detectives continued their investigation, they uncovered surveillance footage from an unreported shots-fired incident that had occurred on Tuesday, June 24 at approximately 9:15 p.m. in the area of 19th Street and 7th Avenue.
The video captured a juvenile male firing multiple rounds from a handgun toward a passing vehicle.
Through their investigation, detectives identified the individual discharging the handgun as the same 15-year-old male injured in the June 28 incident.
Detectives believe the June 28 incident may have resulted from the juvenile accidentally injuring himself due to reckless and improper handling of the firearm.
On July 10, Watervliet Police Detectives located the 15-year-old male in White Plains, New York, and placed him under arrest in connection to the June 24 shots-fired incident.
He has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree, a Class C felony, and reckless endangerment in the 1st degree, a Class D felony.
A 16-year-old male from Troy was charged with tampering with physical evidence, a Class E felony, after surveillance footage showed him removing expended shell casings from the scene at 19th Street and 7th Avenue following the June 24 shooting.
The Albany County Attorney’s Office has prosecutorial jurisdiction over these incidents.
The juveniles were released with an appearance ticket to return to Albany County Probation at a later date.
