In the winter of 2014, a tragedy struck Schenectady, New York, with the death of 30-year-old Markia Michelle Harris-Booth. A vibrant and spirited young woman, she was fatally shot on the afternoon of December 13, 2014. At the time of her death, she was a mother to four sons and was dedicated to her work at SAFE Inc., a shelter for homeless youth.
On that fateful day, Harris-Booth was sitting in the backseat of a car with her 8-month-old son when she was shot multiple times in the torso.
The infant was thankfully unharmed. The incident occurred near the intersection of State and Elder streets, and police were called to the scene shortly after 4 p.m. following several reports of a shooting. Harris-Booth was transported to Ellis Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Witnesses at the scene described a man fleeing the area. A person of interest matching the description was quickly located by patrol officers near the intersection of Becker and Elder streets and taken in for questioning. The man was identified as Jamell Steven Modest, a 46-year-old career criminal and the victim's ex-boyfriend.
Modest was subsequently arrested and charged with the murder of Markia Harris-Booth. In September 2015, Modest chose to plead guilty to the charges against him rather than face a trial. He was sentenced to 23 years to life in prison for the murder. The prosecution highlighted the importance of witness cooperation in securing the conviction, bringing a measure of justice to a family and community devastated by the loss.
