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Schenectady police have announced a breakthrough in a four-year-old homicide case. On September 5, 2025, detectives from the Schenectady Police Department's Major Crimes Unit, with assistance from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), arrested 36-year-old Calvin Williams Jr. of the Bronx. Williams is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of E-Shawn Berkley.
The incident occurred on September 5, 2021, outside Tropics Bar and Restaurant on South Brandywine Avenue. A dispute at a nearby Speedway gas station escalated, resulting in Berkley being shot in the parking lot of the restaurant. Two other individuals were injured during the shooting. A 27-year-old woman received medical attention on the scene and was transported to Albany Medical Center, while a 22-year-old man was stabilized at Ellis Hospital before being transferred to Albany Medical Center.
In April 2025, the Schenectady Police Department and the ATF offered a reward for information leading to an arrest. It remains unclear if the recent arrest is a result of that reward offer. The investigation continues, and authorities urge anyone with additional information to come forward.
The Schenectady Police Department expressed gratitude to the various agencies that contributed to the investigation, including the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, New York State Police, FBI, DEA, and others.