In the late summer of 2023, the small town of Fort Ann, New York, was struck by tragedy with the death of 14-year-old Rycky Martin Stark Jr. A male who was poised to begin his freshman year at Fort Ann Central High School, his life was cut short on August 16, 2023. Known for his passion for basketball, he was a devoted fan of Michael Jordan and could recite player statistics with ease.
Beyond the basketball court, he enjoyed riding his bike and scooter, and spending time with his pug, Giannis.
On that Wednesday evening, a neighbor heard a loud bang from a nearby apartment on Charles Street. Upon checking, she discovered a grim scene. Rycky Stark had suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Emergency services were called, but the wound proved fatal. Inside the apartment with Rycky were two other teenagers, a male and a female.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of a 17-year-old male. Court documents later revealed conflicting accounts of the moments leading up to the fatal shot. One witness claimed the two boys were arguing over gun etiquette when Rycky tried to push the gun away. Another witness described the 17-year-old pointing a shotgun around the room and then at Rycky before it fired. Following the incident, the 17-year-old initially left the scene but later returned with his parents.
The teenage suspect, who has since turned 18, was charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree assault. In court, he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charge. As a result of a plea deal, he faced a sentence ranging from one-and-a-half to nine years in state prison. The judge in the case had previously ruled that the defendant would be tried as an adolescent offender, meaning his case would be handled in the youth part of county court but would proceed in the same manner as an adult case.
