A 29-year-old Albany man pleaded guilty this week to firing at two police detectives who tried to arrest him in December and to shooting at another person outside a downtown nightclub weeks earlier, avoiding a trial that had been set to begin the following Monday, November 9. Devante Wadjas admitted in court that he fired with intent to kill in both episodes, according to prosecutors.
Wadjas pleaded guilty to a six-count grand jury indictment covering both shooting cases, the Albany County District Attorney’s office said, as reported by WRGB. Judge Andra Ackerman presided over the plea. The indictment included 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, according to The Daily Gazette.
Gunfire Outside Flava’s Lounge
The earlier of the two incidents happened on November 30, 2025, when Wadjas fired multiple shots at an individual outside Flava’s Lounge in Albany. No one was injured in that shooting. In court, Wadjas admitted he shot with the intent to cause the death of the individual, the newspaper reported.
Weeks later, on December 18, 2025, two Albany police detectives attempted to apprehend Wadjas near 69 Trinity Place. He fled on foot before drawing a loaded Taurus .40-caliber handgun, outfitted with an extended magazine capable of holding 15 rounds, and firing four shots at the officers. The detectives returned fire and struck Wadjas, who was arrested, treated at the scene and transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Admissions Made in Court
Wadjas admitted he knew the two detectives were police officers acting in their official capacity when he opened fire, and that he fired his weapon multiple times with intent to cause death, per the same account. He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder in the first degree, one count of attempted murder in the second degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and one count of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon said the evidence against Wadjas was overwhelming and that the case highlights the risks law enforcement officers face each day. “Our office will vigorously prosecute those who would use violence against them,” Kindlon said, according to the Daily Gazette’s report.
Separate December Charges and What Comes Next
The Daily Gazette also reported that Wadjas had been indicted and charged in connection with other December 2025 incidents, including second-degree strangulation, two counts of second-degree burglary, fifth-degree arson and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The supplied court records do not establish the current status of those separate charges.
An earlier Albany County news release from December 23, 2025, had stated that Wadjas pleaded not guilty following the detective shooting and was remanded to the Albany County Correctional Facility at that time — a procedural update that predates this week’s guilty plea. Wadjas is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2027, at 3 p.m., and faces up to 75 years to life in state prison, according to WRGB.
