Today in Schenectady County Court, Jevoun Drake (19, dob 12/24/2004) pled guilty to one count of Murder in the Second Degree for the killing of Usman Pirzada on December 19, 2023. Mr. Drake admitted to causing the death of Mr. Pirzada during the course of, or in furtherance of a robbery. He agreed to accept a sentence of 19 years to life when he is to be sentenced on February 25, 2025, at 9:30am.
On a prior date, Jose Amey (19, dob 05/20/2005) pled guilty to Robbery in the Second Degree in connection with the forcible theft from Mr. Pirzada. Mr. Amey will receive a sentence of 7 years of state incarceration, followed by a 5-year period of post release supervision.
On December 19, 2023, Jevoun Drake and Jose Amey went to the area of Steuben Street and Lincoln Avenue in the City of Schenectady with the intention of robbing Usman Pirzada of a quantity of marijuana. Mr. Amey had arranged for the meeting to ostensibly purchase marijuana. Mr. Pirzada was seated in the backseat of the car when the defendants approached the vehicle. Jevoun Drake pulled out a 9mm Smith and Wesson handgun while Mr. Amey took the marijuana. Mr. Drake fired the gun one time causing a single gunshot wound to Mr. Pirzada’s head. The Schenectady Police Department, along with the Schenectady Fire Department, arrived on scene shortly thereafter. Detectives began their investigation immediately and with the assistance of video analysis, Mr. Drake was arrested later that night while Mr. Amey was arrested early the next day.
District Attorney Robert M. Carney stated: “Schenectady Police Detective Aaron Zampella deserves enormous credit for his patient and painstaking interview of Jevoun Drake during which Mr. Drake confessed to shooting Mr. Pirzada and took police to where he had hidden the gun. Mr. Drake was forthright in admitting that he alone was responsible for the death of Mr. Pirzada. Although both young men planned this robbery, murder was not a part of their plan. Mr. Drake said he panicked and pulled the trigger when Mr. Pirzada grabbed for the gun. Both of these young men expressed remorse for their actions. This case is yet another sad example of the tragic consequences of young men arming themselves to commit crime.”
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Christina Tremante-Pelham and Assistant District Attorney Maria Apruzzese. Jevoun Drake is represented by Assistant Conflict Defender Joseph Gardner, Esq. from the Conflict Defender’s Office. Jose Amey is represented by attorney Adam Eggleston, Esq. Hon. Matthew J. Sypniewski in Schenectady County Court accepted pleas from both defendants in this case.