Albany DA: Three plead guilty in Motel 6 shooting death case; Schenectady man killed near Rotterdam line

Paul A.L. Streeks, left, Desirique S. Johnson, middle, Kenneth W. Spencer, right; The scene May 11, 2021 (background) Credit: Colonie Police (insets), File (background)

ALBANY – The three people charged in connection with the May 2021 shooting death of a Schenectady man all pleaded guilty this week to various charges in the case, Albany County District Attorney’s officials said.

Paul Streeks, 25, of Schenectady, pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree manslaughter and is to receive 25 years in prison in connection with the death of Xiaa Price, 20, of Schenectady, at the Motel 6 on Curry Road, just off Interstate 890 in Colonie, near the Rotterdam line.

Streeks’ two co-defendants also pleaded guilty this week. Kenneth Spencer, 46, formerly of Schenectady, pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree attempted assault and is to receive seven or eight years at his sentencing.

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Then Tuesday, Desirique Johnson, 23, of Schenectady, also pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted assault. He is to be sentenced to five years in prison.

Streeks fired the fatal shot, prosecutors previously alleged, and Price was killed in the course of a robbery. Streeks had initially been indicted on a top count of first-degree murder. Both Spencer and Johnson originally faced second-degree murder charges.

Price was shot and killed at the Curry Road Motel 6 early on May 11, 2021. Streeks was accused of shooting Price one time in the head at the motel at 1:41 a.m. that Tuesday, authorities alleged.

Police said on the day of the murder that it appeared Price crashed his vehicle into the motel while attempting to flee the scene.

Streeks, Spencer and Johnson are all to be sentenced Nov. 3.