Albany, NY – 19-year-old Roland Riggins of Albany was sentenced to 25 years to Life in State Prison before the Hon. Andra Ackerman in Albany County Court this afternoon in connection with the 2022 murder of Christopher Bryant. Riggins previously pleaded guilty to Murder in the Second Degree.

The indictment alleged that on or about April 29, 2022, in the area of Grand Street and Madison Avenue in the City of Albany, Riggins conspired with others to cause the death of Christopher Bryant by shooting him with a handgun.

28-year-old Justin Walker and 24-year-old Jordan McKenzie of Albany were convicted of Murder in the Second Degree and Conspiracy in the Second Degree following a jury trial, and previously sentenced to 30 ½ Years to Life, and 23 years to Life in Prison, respectively, for their roles in the murder.

Stephanie, a relative of the victim, said:

“You took a loved one from us. He had a good heart, a positive person, positive energy. We will never see him again, because you took him away from his family, and his two kids. It’s really sad that someone can do something like this, and have no reason to take someone’s life. It says a lot about a person. The worst thing about it is, you didn’t even know him… Now there’s two lives lost; yours and his”

Assistant District Attorney Ryan Carty said:

“This defendant, while he is currently only 19 years old currently as he sits here, his actions, and not only that, but the statements he made in his pre-sentence investigation report, indicate that he is an adult… He acted with one purpose, and that was to take the life of Christopher Bryant on April 29, 2022”

District Attorney David Soares said:

“Young men who are coming of age absolutely *must* be surrounded by the right influences. This case is a tragic example of why. This defendant didn’t just senselessly kill a man at the direction of others; he permanently altered the course of his own life and wasted his potential.”

Additionally, DA Soares would like to thank the Albany Police Department, specifically Detective Sean Perkins and the late Conor O’Shea, for their diligent work investigating this case.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis, the Chief of the Homicide and Violent Crimes Unit, Assistant District Attorney Ryan Carty, and Trial Assistant Ashley Rizzo handled the prosecution of this case.

All parties are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty