In the late hours of a Thursday in Albany, New York, 22-year-old Tyson Williams was sitting in a parked car on Park Avenue, near Philip Street. It was November 8, 2018, and the location was just a short distance from the Governor's Mansion. Suddenly, the quiet of the night was shattered by gunfire. An assailant opened fire on the vehicle, striking Williams in the head.
He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries a few days later, marking the city's 14th homicide of the year.
The investigation into the shooting uncovered a sinister plot. This was not a random act of violence but a calculated murder-for-hire. Authorities identified two individuals involved in the contract killing: Sha-mel Rush and Isis Knight. The investigation revealed that Knight's role was to lure Williams to the predetermined location. Once Williams was in place, Rush, the triggerman, carried out the execution. The motive for the killing was an exchange for money.
Both Sha-mel Rush, also known as 'Yard Shab,' and Isis Knight were arrested and faced charges including first and second-degree murder. Faced with the possibility of life in prison without parole, Rush ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. As part of his plea deal, he identified Isis Knight as his co-conspirator. In November 2019, Rush was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.
Isis Knight also pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Initially, she was expected to receive a sentence of 25 years to life. However, the judge later considered factors such as her mental health and a history of abuse, which were not previously known. In August 2020, Knight was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. The murder of Tyson Williams was reported to have fueled ongoing gang violence in Albany between the 'Yard' gang, of which Rush was a member, and a rival 'uptown' gang.
