Albany man convicted of July murder
County prosecutors say stabbing at apartment fueled by jealous rage
A jury convicted Lahquann Grady on Friday of murdering 29-year-old Rashaun Byrd last summer in a stabbing that Albany County prosecutors said was fueled by jealous rage.
Grady, 21, who argued he killed Byrd in self-defense, was found guilty of one count of second-degree murder, manslaughter and other charges. The jury acquitted Grady of another count of second-degree murder.
Prosecutors said Grady plunged a steak knife into Byrd’s heart inside an apartment at 297 Orange St. during the predawn hours of July 5. Byrd was killed following a struggle for the weapon between Grady and Charley Hawkins, Grady’s onand-off again girlfriend.
Grady had lived with Hawkins inside the apartment, but an order of protection issued weeks earlier barred him from the premises by July 5. A City Court judge issued the order after Grady went into a rage a month earlier because Hawkins had a man in the apartment; she was braiding his hair.
Despite the order of protection, Hawkins and her friends hung out with Grady on July 4 to watch the annual fireworks at Empire State Plaza. They later went their separate ways — Grady went to a family cookout where a relative ended up being shot, Hawkins to her apartment where she hung out with Byrd and two of her friends, prosecutors said.
Grady messaged Hawkins and one of her friends on Facebook demanding to know Hawkins’ whereabouts. They both responded, saying she was not home.
About 2:15 a.m., Grady kicked in the window of the apartment, grabbed a bottle of wine and confronted Byrd. Hawkins grabbed a knife, something she testified she did often to chase Grady away when they argued. Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Mccanney said as Hawkins and Grady fought over the knife, Byrd restrained Grady in a bear hug.
Mccanney said Grady stabbed Byrd in the torso, prompting Byrd to beg him to “chill.” She said Grady refused to drop the knife and stabbed the victim in the heart. In her opening statement to the jury, the prosecutor said Grady “refused to accept the fact that he and Charley were not together anymore and the toxicity of the relationship only increased.”
Grady testified that Byrd died as the three fought for the knife and that they were “all in complete shock.” He denied stabbing Byrd and said his life was at risk from Hawkins, who had cut him.
In his testimony, Grady suggested that he was welcome in the apartment despite the court order. Hawkins, who cried during her testimony, said Grady was not welcome.
The jury began deliberating Wednesday afternoon. Grady faces 25 years to life at his sentencing by County Judge William Carter on March 22.