Ulias Kornegay sentenced for murdering Kwon Lillard
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Ulias Kornegay was sentenced on Friday to what amounted to 25 years to life for the May 2024 shooting murder of Kwon Lillard.
Kornegay was sentenced concurrently on several charges of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors say Kornegay shot Kwon Lillard, 36 nine times —killing him — in the parking lot of Ciro’s Place strip club in Albany. Kornegay claimed self defense.
“My life was in danger, and I take full responsibility for my actions" said Kornegay. “Why did you have to shoot him multiple times!" said Lillard's mother Lea-Jay Martin.
During the trial jurors were shown May 2024 surveillance video of Kornegay interrupting Lillard’s late night conversation with someone else outside that strip club. Kornegay proceeded to shoot Lillard once in the chest, then eight more times as the victim tried to crawl for cover behind a car. Kornegay leaned over a car hood and shot Lillard in the face and head.
Prosecutor Ryan Carty, Judge Andra Ackerman and Lillard's mother all wanted Kornegay's sentences to run consecutively not concurrently. The judge however said the law prevented her from doing so, citing a similar case.
The proceedings were so contentious that multiple guards lined the court aisle and exits. Kornegay was led out in cuffs.