Police: Schenectady man fired gun in attempted Family Dollar robbery

SCHENECTADY – A city man fired a gun while attempting to rob the Family Dollar on State Street Sunday evening, authorities said.

No injuries were reported.

Police arrested Ian E. Cole, 39, of Schenectady, and charged him with first-degree attempted robbery, as well as first-degree reckless endangerment, felonies, along with other charges.

The incident happened at about 6:20 p.m. Sunday at the Family Dollar, 948 State St., according to police allegations filed in court.

Cole is accused of attempting to rob the store while armed with a handgun, according to the allegations. Cole is then accused of intentionally firing the gun in the direction of man during the robbery, according to the allegations.

Cole is charged with the attempted robbery and is not accused of getting away with anything. Police based the charges in part on store and city video. Police arrested Cole at about 7:10 p.m. that evening.

Cole also faces one count each of second-degree and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, felonies, and two misdemeanor menacing counts.

Police found Cole in possession of a Smith & Wesson .380 that had been reported stolen in North Carolina in 2018, according to the accusations.