In the winter of 2018, the life of 28-year-old Dalon Blunt was tragically cut short in Albany, New York. On the evening of Monday, December 10th, Blunt was shot outside of Delaware Grocery at the intersection of Judson and Second streets. He was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries, marking the city's 15th homicide of the year.
Another man, who was 19 at the time, was also injured in the shooting but his wounds were not life-threatening.
Dalon Blunt, a father of four, was remembered by his family as a loving and caring man. At the time of his death, he was employed by Environmental Services in Colonie and had attended Albany public schools. In the wake of his death, his mother, Mary Gause, created a memorial in the driveway of her Partridge Street home to honor her son's memory and to serve as a reminder that his killer had not been brought to justice. The memorial's subsequent removal by the city led to a lawsuit filed by Gause, alleging racial discrimination and emotional distress.
In the months that followed the shooting, the investigation into Dalon Blunt's death continued, though no arrests were made. By July 2019, his case was one of three unsolved homicides from the previous year in Albany. At a community meeting, the Albany Police Chief stated that they had knowledge of the parties involved in these open cases and were in the process of compiling evidence. However, he did not provide a timeline for when any arrests might be expected.
Despite the initial belief by investigators that Blunt knew his attacker, the case has grown cold in the years since. There have been no public announcements of any suspects being identified, arrested, or charged in connection with the murder of Dalon Blunt. His family has been left to grapple with their loss while the quest for justice remains unfulfilled. The shooting death of the young father continues to be an open and unresolved case for the Albany Police Department.
