Man accused of repeatedly firing into Schenectady crowd, injuring woman

PHOTOGRAPHER: Shutterstock Image

Donta J. McMillan

SCHENECTADY — A Menands man has been charged in connection with a shooting outside a Mont Pleasant bar last week, authorities said.

The shooting left a 24-year-old woman with an injury to her shoulder. She is believed to have been a random victim of the shooter, prosecutors said.

Donta J. McMillan, 26, of Broadway, Menands, faces one count of first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree criminal use of a firearm, one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and eight counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, all felonies.

If convicted of the assault count, he would face up to 25 years in state prison. He remained held Tuesday without bail.

The shooting happened just before 3 a.m. Feb. 24 near the Exit Bar at the corner of Crane Street and Main Avenue, according to police court filings.

McMillan is accused of firing at least eight times into a crowd of people, striking the woman.

She was taken to the hospital for treatment and has since been released, prosecutor Kyle Petit of the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday.

The long-term impact of her injury is not yet known, Petit said.

City police quickly zeroed in on McMillan through a license plate, Petit said.

Investigators also have street surveillance video, as well as video from other businesses and even audio, Petit said.

The motive behind the shooting remained unclear Tuesday, Petit said. Many in the crowd had been in the bar and McMillan is believed to have been inside sometime prior to the shooting. The bar, at 869 Crane St., is located just down Crane Street from the intersection with Main.

“She appears to be just an innocent bystander,” Petit said.

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