Sharon Russell made it through her statement Tuesday morning, but barely.
The mother who lost her grown son Danny Russell to gunfire Labor Day weekend 2014 in Schenectady recounted a man who regularly helped family, regularly spent time with family.
She spoke at the sentencing of Gammen Knight, the man who admitted in January to killing Danny Russell Sept. 1, 2014 on Catharine Street.
“I have no one to depend on, help me, hold me or to hold his children,” Sharon Russell told the court while speaking from a podium.
She then sat down and her emotion broke through.
“I’m done, I’m done,” she said as family went to comfort her. “Oh, Jesus, please . . .”
Her sobs could sporadically be heard as the court handed Knight a 28-year sentence in the death of her 44-year-old son.
Knight, 25, of Maple Avenue, pleaded guilty in January to one count each of first-degree manslaughter and criminal sale of a firearm.
Prosecutor Philip Mueller has said the fatal shooting followed an escalating dispute between Knight and Russell over a woman. Russell lived in New York City but frequented Schenectady.
Knight claimed Russell threatened him, his girlfriend Iris Vasquez and child the day before the shooting. Reports differed about whether Russell was armed during the prior interaction, Mueller said.
A street fight between Russell’s girlfriend and two other women — one of them Vasquez — immediately preceded the shooting. Russell came out to intervene on behalf of his girlfriend. Russell was unarmed.
Knight then came out from between nearby houses and shot and killed Russell.
Authorities had formally charged Knight in February 2015 with one count of second-degree murder.
Prosecutors had offered Knight the option of a lesser minimum sentence, but one that could have held him for life, as part of a murder plea. Knight chose the manslaughter plea, with the definite 28 years.
Mueller and Knight’s defense attorney, Michael Horan, offered little in court Tuesday beyond the details of the plea deal. Knight made no statement and Judge Matthew Sypniewski imposed the agreed-upon sentence.
The heart of the proceedings were the victim-impact statements, given by Russell’s mother, the mother of two of his children and his niece.
Family members have said Russell lived in New York City and was in Schenectady for the weekend to celebrate a niece’s birthday. The family went to Lake George that day to spend time at the beach, then returned earlier in the evening. Russell left his brother’s apartment shortly before he was shot.
Sharon Russell cited that trip as an example of his devotion to his family.
Tanisha Bell recalled falling in love with Russell as a teenager. They had two children together.
“I’m scared to grieve for myself because if my children see me grieving they will be hurt even more,” Bell told the court.
Sykina Russell, speaking to the court, recalled her uncle as a good man, her father figure.
“I just love and miss my uncle,” Sykina Russell said. “I just wish he was still here with me.
“That’s all I have to say.”
Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122, [email protected] or @ByStevenCook on Twitter.
Categories: -News-, Schenectady County
