3 charged in killing of UAlbany student

Indictment unsealed Monday says suspects sought to rob UAlbany senior Richard Bailey when fatal shot fired

ALBANY -- Eleven months after 22-year-old college student Richard Bailey was mysteriously slain on a city street, Albany police have charged three teenagers with his murder -- including an alleged triggerman they say robbed another victim seven minutes later.


A five-count indictment unsealed in Albany County Court on Monday accused the trio of murdering Bailey as they rode bicycles during a would-be gunpoint robbery Oct. 20 at South Lake Avenue and Yates Street.

The arrests finally placed names and faces to a random crime that has devastated the victim's family and shocked a city already reeling from the May 2008 killing of 10-year-old Kathina Thomas by a stray bullet.

Bailey, a University at Albany student, was shot in the head about 11:20 p.m. that night as he walked home from watching ''Monday Night Football.''

The son of a retired NYPD officer, Bailey aspired to be an officer himself.

On Monday, his parents, Jim and Lisa Bailey of Nassau County, sat only feet away as the defendants, one by one, pleaded not guilty to charges that could send all three to prison for life.

The Baileys later joined Mayor Jerry Jennings at Albany police headquarters, praising investigators for cracking the case.

"It's never going to bring Rick back ... I don't know if the right word is 'closure,' " Jim Bailey told reporters "but we're just so happy this day has finally come."

He said he and his wife were "pretty much numb" as they watched the defendants appear in court.

Bailey's father also said he was shocked at the youth of the three suspects.

The alleged shooter, 19-year-old De Von Callicut of Rensselaer, is already serving prison time on unrelated charges. The indictment alleged Callicut fired the bullet that took Bailey's life -- and then robbed someone else at 11:27 p.m. at State and Ontario streets.

Callicut, also known as "Cut," is charged with first-degree murder, which carries a possible sentence of life without parole. Co-defendants King "Cokilla" Modest, 17, of Albany, and Ricardo "Rico" Caldwell, 18, of Schenectady, are charged with second-degree murder, which carries a possible sentence of 25 years to life.

All three are charged with the attempted first-degree robbery of Bailey. Callicut also faces a first-degree robbery charge for the alleged second robbery.

Modest once drew the attention of Common Council member and mayoral candidate Corey Ellis, according to a Metroland article published in November 2007.

In the story, headlined "One life at a time," Ellis said he saw leadership qualities in Modest, and was trying to make sure that the teenager was not consumed by life on the streets.

"People have told me King is going to break my heart," Ellis is quoted saying at one point. "I told 'em to wait and see. This young man is special."

Modest is a rapper with a YouTube video called "Uptowns Bubblegum." He was listed last school year as an honor student at Albany High School.

On Monday night, Ellis was somber as he discussed the allegations against Modest, who he said had drifted away from him about 18 months ago.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=844308#ixzz0S5NeyqRn