Schenectady murder suspects in court

The man shot dead on Paige Street last week died while three people tried to rob him, authorities said.

Two people are directly charged with the Feb. 16 killing of 26-year-old Carlos Figueroa, while a third is charged only in the robbery.

Carlsen Nunes, 23, and Yunis A. Johnson, 22, both of Albany, face one count each of second-degree murder. Christopher C. Nunes, 23, of Troy, faces one count of second-degree robbery.

All three appeared in City Court Monday and were ordered held. An investigation by Schenectady police is continuing, officials said.

Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney on Monday said the shooting “wasn’t a random event.” He said there was some prearrangement for the individuals to meet, but he declined to detail that meeting further.

Street surveillance cameras were helpful to the investigation, he said.

Figueroa, of Paige Street, was shot and killed just after 9 p.m. near Strong Street. Court paperwork indicates he was shot in the neck. Carney said the shooting happened where Figueroa fell.

Carlsen Nunes is accused of firing the fatal shot, according to papers filed in court. Carlsen Nunes’ name has also been spelled Carlson Nunes. Johnson is accused of acting with him to commit the robbery that caused the death.

Christopher Nunes is accused in only the robbery — forcibly taking property of Figueroa while being helped by others, according to papers.

Christopher Nunes is on parole for a Rensselaer County-based burglary conviction from 2013. He was sentenced to 2 to 6 years in that case, records show.

Figueroa was married and had two young girls. A large contingent of friends and family memorialized him near the murder scene the day after he died.

On Monday, family and friends gathered at City Court hoping to see those now accused in Figueroa’s death. Several wore clothing honoring Figueroa. Figueroa’s father, Herman Figueroa Sr., wore a white-hooded sweatshirt bearing his son’s picture and the words “Never Forgotten.”

After Carlsen Nunes’ appearance, his father said the man now accused of shooting his son appeared to him to be a man who didn’t care about anybody.

Herman Figueroa said the family is hurting. His two young granddaughters, ages 3 and 5, are hanging on, he said.

“They ask for their daddy a lot,” he said. “They’re always asking for daddy. We tell them he’s in heaven.”

Categories: News, Schenectady County