Man from Albany Admits Guilt in 2022 Shooting Manslaughter Case

An Albany resident, Sadiem Wood, has pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree manslaughter relative to a 2022 shooting incident which resulted in a fatality. The verdict was confirmed by the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. Wood, 35, could possibly serve in a state prison for a duration between seven and a half to 15 years after being sentenced in June.

Wood, according to the original charges, was alleged to have caused the demise of Kareem Collier on August 2, 2022, on Central Avenue, Albany. Furthermore, he was accused of being in illegal possession of a loaded firearm during the incident.

The initial charges levelled against Wood included second-degree murder, second and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence. His arraignment took place in January and his sentencing is slated for June 4.

There’s no further explanation provided as to why the charges were subsequently reduced to second-degree manslaughter, a significant change from the initial more serious charge of second-degree murder.

Considering that murder charges usually imply premeditated intent to kill, whereas manslaughter typically suggests that death occurred without premeditation, this change in charges may indicate a lack of evidence proving that Wood intended to kill Collier. Nonetheless, the exact reasons for the modification of the charges remain unclear as of this reporting.