Troy, NY -- Rensselaer County District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly announced today two nonfatal shooting arrests that have resulted in pleas. Including one that is within the GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative) program.
Shateik Merritt pled guilty on August 12, 2025 to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree in violation of Penal Law Section 265.03(3), a Class C Violent Felony for a shooting that took place outside of the El Dorado bar on 4th Street in the City of Troy in September of 2024. Merritt fired multiple shots at the victim after being escorted out of the bar. He is scheduled to be sentenced to 13 years in state prison and 5 years post release supervision. Sentencing will be on September 2, 2025. The City of Troy Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office and Rensselaer County Probation all collaborate on the GIVE grant. Assistant District Attorneys Antonia Lane and Timothy Feenan prosecuted the case.
Angel Huertas-Lugo pled guilty on August 13, 2025 to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree in violation of Penal Law Section 265.03(3), a Class C Violent Felony for a shooting that took place on 1st Street in the City of Troy. Huertas-Lugo fired two shots into the street towards a vehicle; no one was injured. He is scheduled to be sentenced to 9 years in state prison and 5 years of post-release supervision to run concurrent to his Albany County sentence. Sentencing for Huertas-Lugo is scheduled for October 10, 2025. Assistant District Attorney Antonia Lane prosecuted the case.
District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly said, “Thanks to the investigative efforts by the Troy Police Department in recovering substantial evidence for evidence-based prosecution, these two Defendants will be held accountable for their violent actions in our community.”