On a cold February evening in Albany, New York, a burst of gunfire shattered the night and ended the life of 19-year-old Irving Lamboy. It was February 8, 2020, when police on a routine patrol near Henry Johnson Boulevard heard shots fired. They discovered a man standing in the middle of Clinton Avenue, firing a handgun into a residence.
Inside the home, Lamboy was struck in the back by the gunfire.
He was rushed to Albany Medical Center Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. The young man, described in his obituary as a thoughtful and caring individual with a bright future, became the city's first homicide victim of the year. His family remembered him as a protector and provider, a man of faith whose trust in God and love for his family were paramount.
The man police found firing the weapon was 33-year-old Darryl Smith. He was taken into custody at the scene. Investigators later determined that an argument had occurred between people on the street and those inside the house. The initial shots were reportedly fired from inside the residence toward the individuals outside. In the exchange of gunfire, a 33-year-old man, believed to have been with Smith, was also shot in the upper leg.
Smith was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. In September 2020, he pleaded guilty to the charge. It was revealed that Smith had a significant criminal history, including two prior convictions in New Jersey for reckless manslaughter and robbery. In December 2020, a judge sentenced him to nine years in state prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. The judge noted that had she been aware of the full details of his past crimes earlier, a longer sentence would have been considered. During the sentencing, Smith expressed remorse for his actions.
