On the afternoon of May 21, 2021, Sharf Addalim, a 35-year-old Yemeni man, was walking back to his job at the Sam Food Market in Albany, New York, after attending prayers at a nearby mosque. Known affectionately as 'David' to the community he had served for over two decades, his life was abruptly cut short in a burst of senseless violence at the intersection of First and Quail streets. Addalim was an innocent bystander, caught in the crossfire of a drive-by shooting.
He was struck in the back and was later pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center Hospital, leaving behind a wife and three young children.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to the arrest of Jhajuan Sabb, then 21 years old, from Schenectady. It was determined that Addalim was not the intended target of the attack, which also wounded five other individuals. Sabb, a convicted felon with a prior criminal history, was charged in connection with the deadly shooting. The community, shocked and grief-stricken by the loss of a man described as family by many, mourned a beloved figure who was known for his kindness and jokes.
In June 2022, Jhajuan Sabb pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and attempted first-degree assault. During the sentencing, the prosecutor described the shooting as a 'true act of senseless violence.' The judge, noting Sabb's lack of remorse, sentenced him to a total of 35 years in prison. The tragic death of Sharf Addalim highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in the city and left a permanent void in the hearts of his family and the West Hill neighborhood he had served for so long. His family had fled a war-torn Yemen, hoping for a safer life in the United States, only to have him taken from them in a place they thought was safe.
