In the spring of 2021, just two weeks shy of her graduation from Albany Leadership Charter High School for Girls, 18-year-old Chyna U. Forney’s promising future was tragically cut short. On the afternoon of May 3, 2021, she was struck by a bullet in the back during a drive-by shooting on Essex Street in Albany, New York. Police responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 2:30 p.m. and found Forney wounded. She was not the intended target of the violent act that would ultimately claim her life.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrests of two young men, Alvin Foy, 18, and Jahmere Manning, 19. Foy was apprehended just ten days after the incident and was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and weapons possession. Both he and Chyna were known to each other, with Foy's mother stating they were like brother and sister. A second suspect, Jahmere Manning, was arrested in early June and faced similar charges. Prosecutors alleged that Foy and Manning fired numerous shots from a vehicle, intending to hit another individual.
In the ensuing legal proceedings, Jahmere Manning pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge in October 2022. His cooperation was part of a plea agreement, and he was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. Alvin Foy's case went to trial, where he maintained his innocence. In April 2023, a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder, attempted murder, and weapons charges. During his sentencing, the judge noted his lack of remorse after he was seen laughing while Chyna's sister gave her victim impact statement. Foy received the maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The senseless death of Chyna Forney, a beloved high school student with a bright future, deeply impacted the Albany community. She was remembered as a bubbly teen with a radiant smile who was a leader on her school's track team and had plans to continue the sport in college. Her death, along with other acts of violence, prompted community outcry and calls to curb the rising crime in the city. A memorial of candles, stuffed animals, and messages of love grew at the site of the shooting, a testament to the young life that was tragically taken.
