A man who was shot by Albany police earlier this week following a report of a fight was charged Friday.
Ellazar Williams, 19 of Binghamton, was shot by officers Monday after police responded to a call for a fight on Central Avenue with reports of a handgun. Albany detectives who were nearby arrived to the scene and saw a man matching the description. That's when they say Williams ran through the back of West Hill Middle School, where he was shot.
Friday, the Center for Law and Justice held a press conference in the city, saying Williams was shot in the back and is not expected to walk again.
Albany police announced Friday that Williams was charged with menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. Police say Williams was found at the scene with a large knife. He is currently hospitalized at Albany Medical Center.
Dr. Alice Green of the Center for Law and Justice says police have been denying Williams' significant other a visit to see him in custody. Friday, Spectrum News was told by Dr. Green that Williams' was visited by his girlfriend through the help of his public defender.
For years, Green's partnered with the department to bolster police-community relations. She says in this case, the department has been too tight-lipped.
"Some of the questions that have been raised is maybe they [police] don't want them [the public] to know what his condition was. Maybe they didn't want people to know where he was shot," Green said.
Green also scrutinized the information police have not about the moments leading up to the gunfire.
The APD is standing by the officers involved, saying they were justified in the shooting.
