In the winter of 2021, the life of 23-year-old Uizaie Brigman was tragically cut short in Albany, New York. On the night of January 11th, police responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Ontario and Hamilton streets. Arriving at the scene just before midnight, officers discovered Brigman inside a vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation into the homicide was undertaken by detectives from the Albany Police Department's Criminal Investigation Unit. Their work over the next several months led them to a suspect. In September 2021, Nicholas Higgins, then 28 years old, was charged in connection with Brigman's death. Higgins was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. At the time of his arraignment for the murder, he was already incarcerated on other charges.
The legal proceedings against Nicholas Higgins culminated in a trial where an Albany County jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and weapons possession in July 2023. Following his conviction, the now 30-year-old Higgins awaited sentencing. The court proceedings revealed the violent end to a young life, leaving a family to mourn and a community to grapple with the senseless loss. Higgins faced a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison for the murder conviction, with additional time for the weapons charge. His sentencing was scheduled for September 2023.
