Albany residents react to Saturday shooting involving 13 year old girl

Some Albany residents are frustrated and concerned now more than ever when it comes to the violence that never seems to cease in their community.

Charlie Muller, Pastor at Victory Church, says “Why are our younger kids involved in shootings? Why...because we need to pay attention to truancy. We need to pay attention to after school programs so our kids can read and write.”

Pastor Charlie Muller is talking about one of Albany’s most recent attacks.

“I’m not a police officer, but let me tell you something...if you gave me that authority, I could shut down some of what’s happening right now,” said Muller.

While responding to a report of shots fired Saturday night, Albany police found a 13-year-old girl with a gunshot wound to the leg.

The incident happened in the area of North Swan and Third Streets, which is a block away from a neighborhood park and a convenience store.

“Targeted areas should be the focal point of police cars driving by, police cars stopping here, beat cops making this...we’ve offered this place.”

Zachary Simpson, Founder of Uptown Neighborhood Watch Program, says “It’s really a difficult thing to hear about a shooting in the City of Albany no matter where it is in the city...particularly when it’s a child, an innocent child.”

A solution to the problem...that’s what Simpson wants to see.

“I do want to see the new teams, with the beat cops and the patrol officers really working in unison together. Violence in the City of Albany has no place,” replied Simpson.

The victim was taken to Albany Medical Center Saturday night with non life-threatening injuries.

She has not been identified at this time, but this investigation remains on-going.