Albany Man Who Shot At Cops Indicted For Attacks on Female

Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon announced today that the 29-year-old man who shot at Albany Police on Thursday has been formally charged for several incidents in which he threatened a female and her child.

Devante Wadjas was arraigned on seven-count, sealed indictment Tuesday afternoon in front of the Honorable Andra Ackerman that charges him with Arson in the Fifth Degree, Strangulation in the Second Degree, three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree.

The indictment alleges that on Dec. 15, Wadjas started a fire at an apartment on Tyler Trice Terrace. Then on Thursday, over several hours and several visits, Wadjas allegedly broke into the apartment, strangled the victim and put her child at risk of injury.

Later that afternoon, Albany Police Detectives were attempting to question Wadjas at his residence on Trinity Place about the domestic violence incidents when he allegedly opened fire on them with a handgun.

Wadjas pleaded not guilty Tuesday and was remanded to the custody of the Albany County Correctional Facility. He's been arraigned in Albany City Court on the attempted murder charges and has a preliminary hearing scheduled there for Dec. 30 at 9:30 a.m. The case will be presented before a grand jury in the coming weeks.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Brucato, Bureau Chief of the Major Crimes Unit, is prosecuting the case.

ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE.