Photo: Getty Images
Dontie Mitchell was found not guilty of attempted murder on Monday (December 9) in the 2023 shooting death of Shieer Leggett in Cohoes, New York. However, the jury convicted him of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, which could result in up to 15 years in prison. Mitchell's sentencing is scheduled for February 13, 2025.
The trial centered around an incident on August 11, 2023, when a shootout occurred near a convenience store in Cohoes. Mitchell, a former felon turned anti-violence advocate, claimed he acted in self-defense during the altercation. He testified that he fired his weapon after seeing a gun raised against him. The prosecution argued that Mitchell was the aggressor, while the defense maintained that he was trying to protect himself from gang members.
Assistant Public Defender Rebekah Sokol expressed relief at the verdict, stating, "This was the result that needed to happen," while Assistant District Attorney Jessica Blain-Lewis acknowledged the jury's decision, saying, "The law is what the law is, and the jury worked through it."
Mitchell's past includes a commuted sentence by former Governor Andrew Cuomo for his role in a series of armed robberies. While in prison, Mitchell became an advocate and mentor for other inmates. Despite his acquittal on the attempted murder charge, Mitchell's conviction for weapons possession means he faces a return to prison.
The Times Union reported that Mitchell's defense argued he was surrounded by gang members and acted in self-defense. CBS6 Albany noted that another individual, Nalik Sealy, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in Leggett's death. NEWS10 highlighted that Mitchell's initial murder charge was dropped due to insufficient evidence.