November 16, 2001
Section: Schenectady
Edition: Schenectady Albany; Final
Page: B-02
Jury convicts Wright in January shooting
MIKE GOODWIN
Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY - KO got knocked out. A County Court jury late Wednesday convicted Omar Wright - a 20-year-old man who goes by the nickname KO - of robbery, assault and several other charges for a Jan. 12 strong-arm robbery that culminated in the shooting of an Emmett Street man. Wright faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison at his Dec. 12 sentencing, prosecutors said. Wright and another man, who remains unidentified, barged into 823 Emmett St. on Jan. 12, shooting 42-year-old Charles Miller in the shoulder. Wright took belongings from several other people in the apartment. During the course of the robbery, Miller attempted to wrestle the weapon away from Wright. Both intruders were wearing masks but Miller was able to get Wright's mask "part way off for a brief period," Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Philip Mueller said. Miller was able to identify Wright at trial and several other witnesses claimed he bragged about involvement in the robbery, he said. Wright was convicted of first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, second-degree robbery and second-degree assault. He was also convicted for second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first- and second-degree criminal use of a firearm, and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Schenectady police arrested Wright on Feb. 24 after a two hour standoff at 107 Porter St. Wright eventually surrendered, but a second man, Kie "Guntalk" Washington, 22, allegedly jumped from a window and tried to escape. Washington, who was wearing a bulletproof vest when he leapt from the apartment, was caught with a handgun, ammunition and crack cocaine. Drug and weapons possession charges against him are pending, Mueller said. The same trial jury acquitted Wright of first-degree robbery and petty larceny charges, in connection with a Feb. 7 armed robbery at the intersection of Craig Street and Lincoln Avenue. Prosecutors said they couldn't locate Wright's alleged victim in time to put him on the stand. Assistant District Attorney Robert Bauer prosecuted the case. Randall Kehoe defended Wright. The case was presided over by Judge Michael C. Eidens.
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