On February 3, 2025, Sherifullah Hashimi (DOB: 1/6/1963) was convicted by a Schenectady County Jury of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B Violent Felony, Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a Class C Violent Felony, Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D Violent Felony, Aggravated Criminal Contempt, a Class D Felony, Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, a Class E Felony, Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Incident, a Class A Misdemeanor, and Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Incident, a traffic violation. Schenectady County Court Judge Matthew J Sypniewski presided. The jury acquitted Hashimi of one count, charging Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, a Class A Misdemeanor. Hashimi was convicted of attempting to murder his estranged wife on July 23, 2023, by hitting her with his vehicle.
The case was investigated by Detective Gary Relation of the Schenectady Police Department with assistance from Trooper Justin Pierce from the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and Investigators with the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office.
On July 23, 2023, several 911 calls were placed reporting a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on Frank Street in the City of Schenectady, within the Southgate Housing Complex. Detective Relation was assigned to the investigation as the lead detective and was able to obtain surveillance video showing both the crash and the surrounding circumstances. The video showed the Defendant circling the apartment complex in his car for approximately fifteen minutes. Once the Defendant saw the victim enter the complex in her own vehicle, he began to follow her.
The video showed the victim park on the side of Frank Street, exit her car, and begin walking across the street. She then noticed the Defendant’s vehicle coming down the street toward her and she began to run. The Defendant responded by accelerating and steering his vehicle across the oncoming lane and into the opposite shoulder before straightening his vehicle into the victim. At the time he struck the victim, she was located immediately in front of a parked large SUV. Fortunately, when the Defendant’s vehicle struck the victim she was launched upward and ended up landing on top of the parked SUV, rather than being pinned between the two vehicles. The Defendant’s vehicle struck the victim and the parked car with such force, that the SUV was pushed backwards and two vehicles parked behind it were also damaged.
After the crash, the Defendant exited his vehicle and ran from the scene on foot. His whereabouts were unknown until he appeared at the Police Department approximately ten hours after the crash. Detective Relation interviewed the Defendant. The Defendant claimed he had accidently pressed the accelerator while trying to brake. Data obtained by Trooper Justin Pierce of the New York State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit from the vehicle’s computer system (sometimes referred to as the “black box”) showed the defendant had his foot on the brake as recent as 3.05 seconds before the crash, before removing it and pressing the accelerator at 100% for more than two seconds while steering the vehicle into the victim.
The victim was treated by Firefighter/Paramedics from the Schenectady Fire Department and transported by Mohawk Ambulance to Albany Medical Center’s Emergency Room. After medical testing was performed, it was determined that she did not suffer any life-threatening injuries and was released from the hospital the same day. The victim testified and described the incident as one in a long course of abusive behavior she had suffered at the Defendant’s hands. The victim had separated from the Defendant several years before the murder attempt. Following the separation, the Defendant followed the victim around, showed up at her house unannounced, and made threats to harm her. Eventually, the victim sought and obtained an Order of Protection from Schenectady County Family Court, requiring the Defendant to stay away from her and cease all communication with her. The Order of Protection was in effect on the day of the Attempted Murder.
The lone count on which the jury acquitted, Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, related to allegations that the Defendant had intentionally damaged the vehicles he drove into after hitting the victim. The jury deliberated for approximately two hours.
After the verdict, Judge Sypniewski remanded Hashimi pending sentencing proceedings. Sentencing is scheduled to occur on April 1, 2025, at 9:15 a.m. in Schenectady County Court. Hashimi faces a maximum sentence of twenty-five (25) years of incarceration to be followed by up to five-years Post Release Supervision (commonly referred to as parole) for the Attempted Murder charge. Sentences for the remaining charges must run concurrently as a matter of law. The People are represented by Assistant District Attorney Michael Nobles. Hashimi is represented by attorney Stephan Weiss of the Schenectady Public Defender’s Office.