Arrest made after shooting spree
Man fired at four closed Loudon Road businesses, police say
A suspect has been charged in connection with an incident in which a handful of Loudon Road businesses were sprayed with gunfire overnight Saturday.
Authorities received multiple calls from property owners on Saturday morning reporting bullet-pocked damage.
Most of the damage was to exterior windows, according to Colonie police. In one instance, authorities said, the suspect entered after breaking the front door and fired several rounds inside at various objects.
Police released an image from surveillance footage showing what appeared to be the suspect firing in the direction of the camera, the gun barrel alight with sparks.
Altogether, the suspect — a 23-year-old man from Bolton Landing — fired approximately 20 rounds, said police, who recovered what officials said were all of the weapons used in the spree, including a .22 caliber handgun and a 7.62 caliber rifle.
The firearms, police said, were owned by a relative who was unaware they were stolen.
Four businesses located along Loudon Road reported damage: Uncle Sam’s Health Foods, Latham Billiards, New Country Lexus and Gulf, police said. All were closed at the time of the gunfire between 2 and 3 a.m.
Officials said that the suspect’s motive is unknown but that it doesn’t appear the locations were specifically targeted.
The suspect was taken into custody on Sunday in Bolton Landing. He faces multiple felony charges, including second-degree burglary, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of second-degree criminal mischief and seconddegree criminal use of a firearm.
The defendant was arraigned in Colonie Justice Court and sent to the Albany County jail, where he is being held pending bail and a preliminary hearing, police said.
The spree remains under investigation. Officials are working to identify any additional victims, whether in Colonie or elsewhere.
Anyone with information can call the Colonie Police Investigations Division at 518783-2754. Anonymous tips can be called into the Capital Region Crimestoppers at 1-833ALB-TIPS or by visiting capitalregioncrimestoppers.com.