Prosecution Ends Case in Attempted Murder Trial of Anti-Violence Advocate!
The prosecution has finished presenting its case in the attempted murder trial of Dontie Mitchell, a self-proclaimed anti-violence activist.
Mitchell is accused of involvement in the killing of Shieer Leggett, which happened on August 11, 2023, near Main and Schuyler Streets in Cohoes.
A State Police forensics investigator testified about evidence found at the crime scene. This included 24 shell casings, fired from three different 9mm semi-automatic handguns. Surveillance footage played a key role in piecing together the events leading up to the incident.
An intelligence analyst, Alexis Spall, from the New York State Police, created a timeline of the events using screenshots from surveillance videos.
Most of the footage came from the Smoke Rite 3 and Deli, located at 125 Main Street. The videos captured a group of men near the store around 10 p.m. A gray Honda Accord, allegedly driven by Mitchell, was also seen in the area.
Shots were fired at approximately 10:37 p.m. Prosecutors identified three persons of interest and noted that six other people were present near the scene at the time. Investigators used additional footage, including videos from CDTA, to identify the suspects.
Cohoes Police Detective Matthew Orton, who investigated the case, testified that he canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses.
One witness identified Mitchell as being involved in the shooting. Orton also confirmed that Mitchell did not have a license to carry a firearm.
Body camera footage from August 14, 2023, was shown in court. The video showed police stopping Mitchell on Interstate 787 near Exit 8. Officers were looking for his gray Honda Accord.
During the stop, one trooper pointed a gun at the rear of the car, ordering Mitchell to raise his hands and keep them visible.
Another officer removed Mitchell from the vehicle. He was cooperative during the interaction and was wearing a gray Gap T-shirt and jeans.
Some parts of the audio in the footage were muted. Officers informed Mitchell that Cohoes Police wanted to question him and that his car would be processed for evidence.
The trial will resume on Friday at 9:15 a.m. in Albany County Court, presided over by Judge Andra Ackerman. The judge stated that she expected the jury to begin deliberations by late afternoon.
In the courtroom, Shieer Leggett’s mother, Shakia Leggett, has been present throughout the trial. She shared her pain, recalling how the tragedy occurred on her birthday.
Her son, a single father, had been spending time with his younger brother that evening and was planning to visit her in Atlanta.
“He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Shakia said, reflecting on the devastating loss of her son.
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