Alleged gang member convicted in attempted shooting

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

An accused trigger man for the Four Block Gang was convicted today of trying to kill a man over a Family Court decision.

Curtis Perkins, 23, of Schenectady, now faces up to 25 years in state prison, possibly on top of a seven-year sentence he is already serving in a prior weapons case. And he still faces charges in a federal conspiracy case related to the Four Block Gang, accused of participating in the gang and, at one point, shooting at a rival gang member.

In the attempted murder case tried in Schenectady County Court, gang involvement was not a factor. Prosecutors alleged Perkins tried to kill the father of his girlfriend’s child. The shooting happened the same day the father won a Family Court ruling granting unsupervised visitation with the child.

The Schenectady County Court jury found Perkins tried to shoot at the father, Ashton McNeal, on Jan. 3. It was only a gun malfunction that allowed McNeal to survive, prosecutor Amy Monahan said. Perkins got the gun to work, but not until McNeal and another man were fleeing. Prosecutors said Perkins then fired and missed.

Perkins’ attorney, Fred Rench, argued that Perkins was a convenient target for the accusations, but that his client wasn’t there and wasn’t involved. Only McNeal got a look at the shooter and identified him as Perkins, Rench pointed out.

Rench said he and Perkins were disappointed in the jury’s verdict, though Perkins showed little reaction when it was read early today, after less than five hours of deliberations.