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SchenectadyNews uploaded a new video
(6 days ago)

SCHENECTADY -- Police early Wednesday raided an apartment at 811 Bridge St. and took two people in for questioning in connection with Sunday's shoo...
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SCHENECTADY -- Police early Wednesday raided an apartment at 811 Bridge St. and took two people in for questioning in connection with Sunday's shooting death of Schenectady High School basketball player Eddie Stanley, authorities said. The apartment was searched and the people were questioned, but they were later released. The house is across the street from where Stanley was gunned down after a fight broke out at a party. Neighbors Wednesday reported waking up to a helicopter hovering over the area and police swarming the residence. Rae Cole, who said she has lived on the block for six months, heard the commotion and saw police remove a man and a woman from the third-floor apartment between 5 and 6 a.m. Her 12-year-old son goes to school with a boy who lives there, she said, adding that she saw the boy sitting in a police car with his mother. "It was kind of like something out of a movie," Cole said. "It reminded me of when my brother went to Iraq." Marliek Roscoe, a cousin of Stanley's who lives in the building next door to the one raided by police, said he heard helicopters but did not get up to see what the noise was about. He said he found Stanley's body in a hallway Sunday and was hoping for closure after an arrest. Stanley's Amateur Athletic Union team, the City Rocks, had planned to return from a tournament downstate Sunday, said Gary Burton, a coach with the team. But the team lost Saturday afternoon and instead returned home that night. Another coach with the team dropped Stanley off at his cousin's house around 10 p.m., Burton said. Stanley's father has said neither he nor the teen's mother knew he was back in town attending a party. Cole said neighbors have been sitting on their porches and keeping a close eye on their children since the shooting. "You can't feel that your child is safe," she said. Neighbors who live in the same building police raided denied seeing or hearing anything, but one woman said she no longer lets her young daughters play outside. "It's not fair that that boy got shot because we want to play outside," 7-year-old Rose Sanchez said just before heading off to school. Her sister, Victoria Sanchez, 6, said she's been told she can't play outside until the family moves. Police canceled a press conference that was planned Wednesday. Meanwhile, Victory Church Pastor Charlie Muller of Albany and Pastor Ted Ward, president of the Schenectady NAACP, will host a gun buy-back program from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 1115 McClyman St. in Hamilton Hill in response to Stanley's slaying. Those who turn in an illegal, working handgun will receive a gift card for Crossgates Mall. Calling hours for Stanley are 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, with a service to follow at Refreshing Springs Church, 327 Georgetta Dix Plaza, Schenectady. Reach Dayelin Roman at 454-5350 or droman@timesunion.com.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/artic...
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SchenectadyNews uploaded a new video
(6 days ago)

Three Charged In Murder Of Guyanese In Schenectady February 23, 2010 Tues. Feb. 23, 2010: Police in Schenectady are seeking information on the murde...
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Three Charged In Murder Of Guyanese In Schenectady February 23, 2010 Tues. Feb. 23, 2010: Police in Schenectady are seeking information on the murder of a Guyanese immigrant, the city's first homicide for 2010. Ganesh Ramgoolam, 23, was shot five times in the upper body around 2 a.m. Saturday on Maple Avenue in Schenectady, police said. Ramgoolam was a passenger in a car when he was shot. His body was found outside 948 Maple Avenue, near Vale Cemetery. Police learned of the crime as the result of a 911 emergency call in which the caller reported hearing gunfire. Authorities are asking anyone with information to call the Schenectady police tips line at 518-788-6566. Police also say they are looking into a report that another vehicle with multiple occupants, possibly a dark-colored SUV, was seen leaving the area immediately after the shots were fired. UPDATE: Police have charged Dhanashar Persaud, 26, of Moyston Street, Schenectady, Vishan A. Parbhudial, 23, of Maple Avenue, Schenectady, and Richard T. Baliraj, 21, of Queens, with second-degree murder in connection with the death of Ganesh Ramgoolam.
Savoia said Vishan Parbhudial and Baliraj were in the house when police raided the Maple Avenue home. They were questioned and later released, but arrested Monday morning after police investigated further. Persaud was arrested Monday afternoon after police staked out his home.
At a news conference later on Monday, city police spokesman Sgt. Eric Clifford released details about the violent encounter, specifically addressing why officers made the split-second decision not to return fire.
"They showed considerable restraint in not returning fire," he said, adding that the officers were in a small, confined area.
Authorities said the officers also were unaware of where the gunfire originated from and did not want to fire indiscriminately into a residence full of people. In all, there were 10 people, including one infant, in the house, Clifford said.
He said the police team announced their arrival even though they had obtained a search warrant allowing them to enter without knocking. From there, they forced the door open and gunfire erupted.
"I don't believe it was immediate, but it was soon after," Clifford said of the gunshot. He declined to discuss what happened next. Investigators recovered a handgun, police said.
Ramgoolam, a bus mechanic with a wife and young children, was gunned down around 2 a.m. Saturday as he exited a car in which he was a passenger. Police, who are still looking for a motive in the slaying, said the Guyanese national was shot five times in the upper body and head.
Ramgoolam, who lived with his family in the Mont Pleasant section, was pronounced dead at the scene. It was the city's first homicide of 2010. Police said a dark-colored SUV, occupied by several people, was seen leaving the area immediately after the shooting.
http://blog.timesunion.com/crime/thre...
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