Albany man Devante Wadjas pleads guilty to six-count indictment

A Multi-Count Plea in Albany

Devante Wadjas, the 29-year-old man at the center of a series of violent incidents in Albany, entered a guilty plea on November 6, 2026, to a six-count grand jury indictment. The plea, accepted by the Honorable Andra Ackerman, effectively resolves two separate shooting cases that had kept the city on edge for nearly a year. As reported by WNYT and CBS6 Albany, Wadjas admitted to shooting at two Albany Police detectives and firing at individuals outside a local lounge, bringing a definitive end to the proceedings just days before he was scheduled to stand trial.

The legal stakes for Wadjas are significant. He is currently facing a sentence of 75 years to life in state prison, with a formal sentencing date set for January 6, 2027, at 3 p.m. Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon underscored the gravity of the case following the hearing, noting that the sheer weight of the evidence prompted the defendant to forgo a trial.

“Mr. Wadjas chose today to plead guilty because the proof in this case was overwhelming,” Kindlon said. “This case is a stark reminder of the risks faced each day by our law enforcement officers. Today’s plea should send a clear message that our Office will vigorously prosecute those who would use violence against them as they perform their duty to keep us safe.”

The December 2025 Confrontation

The sequence of events leading to this indictment began in late 2025, a period marked by high-risk encounters for local law enforcement. On December 18, 2025, two Albany Police detectives attempted to make contact with Wadjas near 69 Trinity Place regarding ongoing felony investigations, including a domestic violence case. According to court records cited by CBS6 Albany, Wadjas fled on foot upon spotting the officers. During the pursuit, he drew a Taurus .40-caliber handgun equipped with an extended 15-round magazine and fired four shots at the detectives. The officers returned fire, striking Wadjas in the chest. He was treated on the scene before being transported to Albany Medical Center for non-life-threatening injuries.

In open court, Wadjas admitted he was fully aware that the individuals pursuing him were police officers acting in their official capacity. He explicitly acknowledged his intent to cause the death of the detectives during the exchange.

The Flava’s Lounge Incident

The scope of the grand jury indictment extended beyond the confrontation with police. Investigators determined that weeks prior to the Trinity Place shooting, Wadjas was involved in a separate violent incident. On November 30, 2025, at approximately 3:54 a.m., Wadjas fired multiple shots at an individual outside of Flava’s Lounge in Albany. While no one was injured in that shooting, Wadjas admitted in court that he fired his weapon with the intent to kill.

Albany man Devante Wadjas pleads guilty to six-count indictment — Photo: cbs6albany.com

The guilty plea encompasses two counts of first-degree attempted murder, one count of second-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Ongoing Investigations and Legal Limbo

While the six-count indictment is now resolved through the plea, the legal shadow cast by Wadjas remains. He is still the subject of an ongoing investigation regarding a separate series of events from December 2025. Authorities are examining allegations of arson, strangulation, burglary, and child endangerment linked to an apartment fire. As of this report, no formal charges have been filed in connection with those specific allegations. Under the American legal system, individuals remain presumed innocent regarding any pending or uncharged investigations until proven guilty in a court of law.

Albany man who shot at police pleads guilty to six-count indictment

The resolution of the shooting cases provides a measure of closure for the department and the community, yet the pending arson and strangulation probe leaves a significant piece of the narrative unfinished. For the residents of Albany, the case serves as a stark marker of the intersection between domestic violence intervention and high-stakes street violence—a dynamic that continues to challenge local law enforcement resources and public safety strategies.