Mother of murder victim speaks out
As man sentenced, concern expressed for young child
A murder sentencing at Rensselaer County Court turned emotional Wednesday as victim impact statements were made by the parents of a 21-yearold woman who was killed in January 2019 by the father of her infant son.
Rashad Edwards, 36, was quiet as Diane Haughton read her statement about the loss of her daughter, Brianna Haughton, whom Edwards at a March 3 hearing admitted to stabbing to death.
“Her son was her world. She was the greatest mother,” Haughton said. “You will never be forgiven.”
Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Dorando read the statement of Brianna Haughton’s father, Floyd Walder, who described Edwards as a
“monster.” Walder also said how much his daughter’s son, Justice, has suffered and will suffer from the loss of his mother. Justice was 14 months old when Brianna Haughton was killed.
County Court Judge Jennifer Sober sentenced Edwards to 23 years to life in prison for his guilty plea to second-degree murder for stabbing Haughton to death on Jan. 13, 2019, in front of their son in a Pawling Avenue apartment. Sober also sentenced him to 3 ½ years to 7 years in prison for criminal possession of a weapon to run concurrently with the murder sentence.
“I have never seen such an outpouring from the community, victim impact statements and letters,” Sober said in handing down the sentence, which was part of a plea agreement.
The case was the first homicide handled by District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly after she took office on Jan. 1, 2019. Donnelly called it a horrible crime that impacted not only Haughton’s family but the many people in the community who knew her.
Edwards was on parole for a weapons charge when he repeatedly stabbed Haughton at 491 Pawling Ave. on Jan. 13, 2019 in front of their child, according to authorities. Haughton’s body was discovered during a welfare check by Troy police on Jan. 14, 2019.
The day Haughton’s body was found, police said they had a “person of interest” who was being treated at a local hospital with significant wounds and was in stable condition. Law enforcement sources at the time confirmed that Edwards was brought to the Rensselaer County jail from Samaritan Hospital and that he had sutures from cuts on his body. It is unclear if Haughton caused the wounds defending herself, or if Edwards’ cuts were self-inflicted.
Defense attorney Jay Hernandez said an appeal would be filed based on suppression hearings heard early on in the court case.
POLICE, COURTS AND FIRE CALLS
Police: Armed man tried to steal cars
COLONIE — A man wielding a stolen Ruger pellet rifle who tried to steal at least two vehicles near the Walmart parking lot has been detained, Colonie police said.
Police said they received 911 calls at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday about the man who was near the Loudon Road store.
Police found the man under the Latham Traffic Circle overpass on Route 9. After a brief struggle the man was taken into custody and brought to Albany Medical Center Hospital for a physical and mental evaluation, police said. Some officers had minor injuries.
The man appeared uninjured, police said.
No civilians were injured and the pellet rifle was recovered, police said. It is believed the man stole the gun from Walmart just before the incident, police said.
“The multiple officers from the Colonie Police Department who responded to this incident and located the individual showed tremendous restraint, being able to safely detain this individual using minimal force, in a chaotic scene where the use of deadly physical force would have been justified,” police said in a statement. “Officers remained calm and used rapidly developing information from witnesses to make split-second decisions, ultimately resulting in a successful outcome.”
Police have not released the man’s name. They have said he will be formally charged after he is released from the hospital. Police will release more information on the man on Thursday, including what charges he will face. Walmart was temporarily put into a lockdown, which was lifted shortly after the man was taken into custody, police said.
Anyone with more information on the incident can call police at 518-783-2754.
Man found dead after house fire
MAYFIELD — Firefighters found a 91-yearold man dead inside a home that caught fire early Wednesday morning, State Police said.
Authorities were called to the home on Route 30 at about 12:55 a.m., finding the structure engulfed in flames.
Troopers tried to make contact with anyone inside the building but received no response.
Once the Mayfield Fire Department extinguished the flames, they found Earl L. Hare’s remains, State Police said.
State Police say they are awaiting results of an autopsy. The fire is being investigated by State Police and state fire investigators.
Police investigate Albany shooting
ALBANY —Albany police were investigating a shooting Tuesday night on Third Street.
At about 11:20 p.m., officers responded to the 600 block of Third Street between Rawson and Colby streets for reports of a shooting and found a 43-year-old man with gunshot wounds to his leg and foot. He was treated by emergency medical personnel and hospitalized with nonlife-threatening injuries.
The investigation is continuing.