Photo: txking / iStock / Getty Images
A 19-year-old Troy man has been sentenced to 13 years in state prison for two separate shooting incidents in Albany that occurred months apart.
Christian Keith received his sentence on Thursday (January 22) after pleading guilty to multiple charges including two counts of attempted murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of tampering with physical evidence, according to the Albany County District Attorney's Office.
Keith admitted to shooting a 30-year-old man near Clinton Avenue and Lark Street in Albany on July 30, 2024. The victim survived after emergency surgery, though a bullet remains lodged in his body that doctors determined was too dangerous to remove.
Despite being identified as a suspect in the first shooting, Keith evaded police for months. During this time, he committed a second shooting on March 11, 2025, firing at someone sitting in a parked car on Lark Drive near Manning Boulevard. Albany Police finally apprehended Keith later that same day on Sheridan Avenue.
During sentencing, Judge Andra Ackerman expressed concern over Keith's apparent lack of remorse. "I'm very concerned about your statements about the victim," Judge Ackerman said, referencing Keith's comments suggesting he felt the "tables were now even" with the first victim.
Assistant District Attorney Stephen Lydon highlighted the severity of Keith's actions, noting, "The nature of the defendant's conduct was particularly disturbing because he fired a machine gun at the victim's back, narrowly missing his heart. And instead of that incident having any deterring effect on his behavior, only about eight months later, he fired at a second victim," CBS6 reported.
Keith was originally indicted in May 2025 and had initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea. In addition to his prison term, Keith will serve five years of post-release supervision.