ALBANY, N.Y. — As Albany mourns its eighth homicide victim of 2018, the Guardian Angels returned to the area Tuesday night to recruit new members.

The controversial, New York City-based community patrol group came back to Albany after being met with some opposition during a visit last week.

Some community members say they're doing more harm than good.

Undeterred, they returned Tuesday to find local people interested in joining up.

A handful of people, tired of the recent violence in the city, took part in a Guardian Angels Orientation and then walked around the city's south end, patrolling the area.

"I’m just like, ‘Alright, if it’s just a safety patrol group.’ It’s like all they’re doing is patrolling, might see them from time to time but they’re by all means no harm, not trying to arrest you, not trying to tell you what to do with their life, just there and when they see a serious situation they might break it up,” said Anthony Eggleston, a Guardian Angels recruit.

“You get the thugs and thuggettes, they perch up like vultures on the corners because they act like they own the community and unfortunately, people believe that so you have to take that corner back from them,” said Curtis Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder. "I think they oughta be receptive to anybody with a track record and wants to help. There's more than enough work to do throughout the city in Albany for all different kind of groups.”

Their visit came the same night as a vigil for Khalil Barnes, who was shot to death while sitting in a car over the weekend.