On a summer evening in Albany, New York, a 21-year-old man named Naheim Burbridge was fatally shot. The incident occurred on Saturday, July 22, 2023. That evening, after finishing his shift as a pool attendant, Burbridge returned home and then went out to a nearby store. On his way, he was reportedly confronted by individuals who robbed him. In the course of this encounter, he was shot. Albany police responded to reports of gunfire around 7:15 p.m.
near the intersection of Morton Avenue and Elizabeth Street, where they found Burbridge with at least one gunshot wound to his torso. He was transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Remembered as a kind-hearted and compassionate young man, Burbridge had graduated from Albany High School in 2021. He had aspirations of becoming a veterinarian, a testament to his love for animals. Those who knew him described him as a sweet and respectful individual who was dedicated to his family. In a heroic act just prior to his death, he had utilized his swimming skills to save a five-year-old child from drowning at the pool where he worked.
The investigation into Burbridge's death led to the arrest of a suspect. Elias Gilbert, who was a teenager at the time of the shooting, was taken into custody. In October of the following year, Gilbert pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, admitting to shooting Burbridge with an illegal handgun. In December 2023, he was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for the crime. Prior to this conviction, Gilbert had also been arrested on unrelated robbery and assault charges.
