GUILDERLAND — Chandler McCray, a 33-year-old Albany man, was arraigned in Guilderland Town Court on Friday afternoon on four felony charges, including attempted murder of a police officer.

Lieutenant Joe DeVoe with the Guilderland Police told The Enterprise just after the 2:30 p.m. arraignment that police were first alerted to a problem with a 6:26 a.m. call from the manager of Homewood Suites, a large hotel at 1651 Western Avenue in front of Crossgates Mall.

“Someone heard a gunshot from a room on the fifth floor,” DeVoe said. The fifth floor is the hotel’s top floor.

When Guilderland Police arrived on the scene, “They saw evidence of shots fired,” DeVoe said and called additional agencies, which included a special section of Colonie Police, State Police, the county sheriff’s office, and police from the University at Albany.

Guests staying on the fourth and fifth floors of Homewood Suites were evacuated and a perimeter was set up around the hotel, DeVoe said.

The suspect was firing shots out the window of his hotel room, and through the walls of his room into adjoining rooms and the hallway, and also through the closed door of the fifth-floor room where he was holed up into the hallway, DeVoe said. When police first asked him to leave, he did not.

The suspect knew he was shooting through the door and walls at police officers in the hallway, said DeVoe as they had identified themselves. He said the officers in the hallway were “a mixture” of the five agencies on the scene.

None of the hotel guests or police officers were injured. The suspect himself “had no observed injuries and reported no injury to officers,” said DeVoe.

Ultimately, McCray “was taken into custody without incident,” said DeVoe; he was handcuffed and taken to the Guilderland station about an hour-and-a-half after the 6:26 a.m. call was made by the hotel’s manager.

McCray, who had been alone in the hotel room, had two handguns — “both loaded” — a Smith & Wesson and a Taurus, said DeVoe.

In addition to the charge for first-degree attempted murder of a police officer, McCray was also charged with two counts of second-degree possession of a weapon, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Asked why McCray was shooting, what police believe his motive may have been, DeVoe said, “We don’t know at this time.”

DeVoe concluded, “I’m relieved for it to have ended as peacefully as it did but have concern for his behavior. He could have caused serious injury or death. Bullets were going into other rooms. I’m just thankful our quick responses aided in ending this peacefully.”

In the courtroom

Judge Denise Randall presided over a near-empty courtroom for Friday’s arraignment. A court clerk sat near Randall. A television news cameraman stood off to one side, quietly filming the arraignment. An Enterprise photographer and reporter were seated in the gallery along with another reporter. Lt. DeVoe stood near the front.

Assistant Public Defender Michael Jurena, who has worked for more than 20 years for the Albany County Public Defender’s Office, sat at a table up front, going through papers that listed the charges against McCray.

McCray’s voice could be heard, moaning and shouting from outside the courtroom, “Nobody told me about this” and, intermittently, “I’m not on my meds.”

Asked if he was aware of McCray having mental-health issues, Jurena told The Enterprise that he had spoken only briefly with his client. 

“We’re just here for purposes of arraignment,” he said. “He’ll get referred to another member of the office.”

Once Randall got to the bench, McCray was led in. A Black man with a beard, mustache, and hair in dreadlocks, he wore a white T-shirt, ripped jeans, and orange and mustard New Balance sneakers.

His ankles and wrists were shackled in chains.

“Good afternoon, Mr. McCray,” said Randall as she went over his charges and rights.

When asked if he understood, McCray responded, “Yeah.”

Jurena objected to the presence of media in the courtroom to which Randall responded, “The media has a right to be here.” She said that, to minimize disruption, just one pool camera had been allowed in the courtroom.

When Randall asked, McCray gave his birth date, phone number, and address — as 63 Hillcrest Ave., which is on the edge of Albany near Guilderland, less than three miles from Homewood Suites.

After Randall read the four felony charges, Jurena entered a “not guilty plea” on McCray’s behalf.

Randall set a preliminary hearing for Thursday, Sept. 28, at 10 a.m. in Guilderland Town Court.

Because of the first-degree attempted murder charge, she said there could be no bail and McCray would be remanded to Albany County’s jail.

Randall said she would order a mental-health evaluation.

“He indicated he’s missing his meds,” Jurena told the judge, requesting a medical evaluation as well, to which Randall agreed.

As Randall went through paperwork at the bench, McCray sat on a chair at the front table next to Jurena, an officer stationed at his side.

McCray’s legs bobbed up and down as he placed his shackled hands, palms up in his lap, and bowed his head down, burying his face in his hands, softly moaning.

He and Jurena spoke quietly before McCray was led from the courtroom.

“Good luck,” said Randall as McCray exited.

“I don’t have meds!” wailed McCray.