Albany, NY – 21-year-old Brian Moses of Albany was sentenced to a term of 50 years to Life in State Prison before the Hon. Roger McDonough in Albany County Supreme Court this morning.

On February 1, 2024, he was convicted of One Count of Murder in the Second Degree, One Count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, and One Count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, following a jury trial.

The indictment alleged that on or about September 30, 2022, while in the area of Hamilton Street in the City of Albany, Moses intentionally caused the death of 18-year-old William Sanders.

Additionally, on or about July 7, 2022, in the area of 843 Madison Avenue in the City of Albany, Moses attempted to cause the death of another person. He was also convicted of possessing an illegal, loaded firearm on the same date, and at the same location.

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer McCanney said:

“It’s hard to describe exactly how senseless this defendant’s actions were. He killed William Sanders, a person he didn’t even know, for no reason whatsoever, and has shown zero remorse. If it weren’t for this defendant’s gun jamming, there would be a second homicide victim here in Billy Rodriguez, who he shot once, and tried to shoot several more times. Given those factors, the only appropriate sentence is the maximum.”

Judge McDonough said:

“Sadly, this is another case in the seemingly endless cavalcade of cases before this court of young black men shooting other young black men for no sensical, logical reason… The attempted murder was depicted on camera, and showed you walk up group of other young black men, standing or sitting in the park, and apparently just having fun with each other. They weren’t doing anything, they weren’t threatening people, they weren’t intimidating people, they were just hanging out… Then you have, quite frankly, the audacity to stand up and say you have sympathy, or you want to express condolences for the family of the victims? That rings hollow.”

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer McCanney, the Chief of the Local Courts Unit, ADA Nicholas Pittari, and Trial Assistant Ashley Rizzo handled the prosecution of this case.