In the summer of 2020, William E. Hooks III, a 24-year-old male, was fatally shot in Albany, New York. The incident occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, near the intersection of North Lake Avenue and First Street in the West Hill neighborhood. Hooks was one of numerous individuals shot in the city during a surge of violence that month. Another person was also wounded in the same incident that claimed Hooks' life.
For several months, no arrests were made in connection with the shooting. However, in December 2020, an indictment was unsealed, charging two Albany men with the murder of William Hooks. The suspects were identified as Jaiquan Allah, then 24, and Olajuwon K. Johnson, then 29. Both men had been recently paroled on separate matters. The indictment charged both men with second-degree murder and felony assault. Allah also faced a weapons possession charge, while Johnson was additionally charged with hindering prosecution and criminal facilitation. Both men pleaded not guilty.
The legal proceedings brought emotional moments to the courtroom, with family members of both Hooks and the defendants in attendance. One woman wore a shirt with Hooks' image on it. In July 2023, a jury convicted Jaiquan Allah of second-degree murder, assault, and weapon possession. The deliberation was remarkably brief. In September 2023, a judge sentenced Allah to a term of 32 years to life in state prison. During the sentencing, Hooks' significant other, Shaliva Leverett, shared a poignant statement about her profound loss. The other man charged in the case was reportedly serving time in prison for a criminal facilitation conviction. Family members remembered Hooks as a generous and kind-hearted person who would give the shirt off his back to someone in need.
