In the early morning hours of December 9, 2017, the festive atmosphere inside Levels Banquet Hall on North Pearl Street in Albany, New York, was shattered by gunfire. Dashaun Oquendo, a 33-year-old man, was shot twice in the torso during a private party being held at the venue. The event was reportedly an afterparty for a concert that had taken place earlier that evening at the Times Union Center.
Albany police officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 2:45 a.m., where they found Oquendo with a serious gunshot wound. He was rushed to Albany Medical Center, but tragically, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the death of Dashaun Oquendo, who was known to his friends and family by the nickname 'Lazy,' was immediately launched by the Albany Police Department. Detectives began the arduous process of interviewing potential witnesses who were among the crowd at the banquet hall and reviewing any available surveillance footage from the area. Despite their efforts, the investigation has yet to yield any arrests, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the shooting. The circumstances that led to the fatal shooting remain unclear, leaving a grieving family and community searching for answers. The police have made public appeals for anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
In the wake of the violence, the New York State Liquor Authority took action by suspending the liquor license of Levels Banquet Hall. The establishment, which had been a venue for various events, including weddings and parties, was forced to close as the investigation into the homicide continued. Outside the now-shuttered hall, a memorial of candles and heartfelt messages was created by those who knew and loved Dashaun Oquendo, a poignant tribute to a life cut short. The case remains an open and active investigation, a painful reminder of an unsolved homicide in the city of Albany.
