In the winter of 2024, a life was tragically cut short on the streets of Albany, New York. David N. Cooley Jr., a 35-year-old Black male, was walking down Hudson Avenue on the afternoon of January 3rd when he was shot in the head. First responders rushed to the scene to provide aid before transporting him to Albany Medical Center, where he fought for his life in critical condition.
Despite the efforts of medical professionals, David succumbed to his injuries two days later, on January 5, 2024.
The man identified as the shooter was 35-year-old Rakim A. Tillery. Authorities reported that Tillery and Cooley were well acquainted, though the specific motive behind the violent encounter remained unclear. Following the shooting, Tillery fled the area in a white Mercedes, sparking a search by law enforcement.
The pursuit came to a dramatic and fatal conclusion on the New York State Thruway near Exit 15 in Ramapo, approximately 115 miles south of where the initial incident occurred. State Police initiated a traffic stop on Tillery's vehicle. During the stop, Tillery opened fire on the troopers. The officers returned fire, and in the exchange of gunfire, Rakim A. Tillery was fatally shot. The troopers involved in the shootout sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were subsequently treated at a local medical center.
