Police think 2 responsible for Schenectady shooting

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

The two victims in Thursday night’s shooting on Hamilton Hill were recovering from their injuries Friday, as police continued to search for those who shot them.

Police believe there were two shooters in the 9 p.m. incident at the corner of Emmett and Steuben streets, one using a shotgun and the other another type of firearm.

One man who was detained after the shooting was interviewed and released without charges.

Police were also investigating whether the victims were targeted, police spokesman Lt. Mark McCracken said. The victims had no known connection to each other, police said.

Shot were Talib A. Farmer, 18, of Emmett Street, and Donna J. Perez, 32, of Albany Street. Farmer was peppered with birdshot from his face down to his legs, police said, while Perez was shot once in the abdomen with another type of gun.

Both were taken to Albany Medical Center, where they were treated and Perez underwent surgery.

After the shooting, police surrounded a nearby home on Steuben Street after receiving information that one of the shooters may have run inside. When police arrived, they spoke to the residents of the apartment house and had them leave the building, but the person who reportedly had been seen running inside was not accounted for.

Police waited outside, guns drawn, using loudspeakers to tell whoever was still inside to come out. Instructions were given in both English and Spanish.

Finally, at about a 10:45 p.m., the department’s SWAT team stormed the house, shields and bulletproof vests protecting them. They also brought in a dog wearing its own vest.

Police had permission to search the apartment house from it residents. Team members could be seen inside the building with lights looking for the suspect but found no one.

Steuben Street was blocked off from the Emmett Street intersection to the Albany Street intersection as police watched the house.