Bitchin’ Donuts hit after shots fired on Lark St.

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Police said there are no reported victims after shots were fired in Albany. However, we learned the storefront of a local business was struck and the owner said this is on par with brazen crimes she’s witnessed in the area.

Gunfire erupted on the corner of Lark and Spring streets on Wednesday night around 7:40 P.M. 

Surveillance video shows the moment shots were fired by a group in the intersection at individuals riding bikes down Lark Street. But it was Bitchin’ Donuts that was hit. Another angle from inside shows the front door shatter. A bullet is still lodged in the frame.

The business had closed just before the shots rang out. One employee was still working in the back when it happened. He called owner Tania Sharlow and said…

“‘One of our windows just got busted out. You better get down here.’ I hopped out of bed. I got down here right away. Saw a lot of chaos just everywhere and yeah, we lost our front door to some gunfire,” said Sharlow.

The investigation is ongoing. But criminal activity in the area is why Sharlow said she posted a handwritten ‘No Loitering’ sign on her window about a month ago. 

“Unfortunately, I would say it is somewhat in line with the trend that we have noticed and I hope we can open a dialogue. Let’s think about how we can fix Lark Street. I didn’t live here when Lark Street was great. I hear about how great Lark Street was. How do we make Lark Street great again?” said Sharlow.

Bitchin’ Donuts has been open at this location for almost two years. Sharlow said they removed anti-sitting devices on the premises when they moved in because they wanted to be warm and welcoming.

“And now we’re thinking perhaps that was a mistake because the kind of thing that has drawn to us is definitely like drug dealing and unsavory activity,” said Sharlow.

As a business owner, she said, you expect unexpected expenses but not like this. She’s grateful no one was hurt. 

“The B.I.D. reached out to me immediately and said if there’s anything that we can do to help, please let us know and I thanked them for reaching out. However, the Central B.I.D. did reach out this morning and they were so gracious in paying for the replacement of our front door,” said Sharlow.

She made a heartfelt post on social media and the community has shown an outpouring of support. But other customers, like regular Julia Hensley, were surprised on arrival. 

“It was pretty shocking. Very scary for the business, but people are still coming out and supporting them which is really nice,” said Hensley.

She drove all the way from Saratoga Springs to enjoy the food. Hensley was impressed at how the community rallied around the business and how quickly the front door was replaced.

Sharlow made more ‘No Loitering’ signs and will post those once things calm down. 

“I do think that, from what I’ve heard, if there was more great things for people to come to on Lark Street, good things for people to be involved with, that may be some of the criminal activity wouldn’t feel so comfortable just kind of displaying itself outwardly in broad day,” said Sharlow.

She plans to install another security camera on the corner but this one will be pointing down Spring Street.