COHOES, N.Y. - Officials say a suspect went door-to-door in a Cohoes apartment building before gaining entry in one apartment and killing a man.
The incident occurred on Friday night at approximately 9:30 P.M. at the Ogden Mills Apartments when the victim, 67-year-old John Siakala, opened his door to the suspect, 53-year-old Mark Richardson, a homeless man who is a repeat felon.
Richardson was able to gain entry without force, police say, and attacked Siakala in his apartment.
NEWS10 talked with Siakala's son, who describes him as a generous and kind man, who would have opened the door for anyone. "I just want to know how this guy got into the building," he says.
Siakala was beaten to death and taken to Albany Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Another elderly woman who lived in the building suffered injuries from being beaten and was also sent to Albany Medical Center Hospital with non life threatening injuries.
Cohoes Mayor John McDonald says the Ogden Mills Apartments, a senior home on Ontario Street, is a secure building and that Richardson tried to get into several apartments before gaining entry into one.
Mayor McDonald says that Richardson snuck pass security and then went door-to-door until someone answered.
The mayor said Richardson was searching for things to steal.
Troy Police were assisted by a canine that found Richardson in a grassy field nearby. Officers said Richardson appeared to be high on crack-cocaine at the time of the arrest.
As of now, he is charged with burglary and two counts of assault, police say additional charges are likely. He is locked up in the Albany County Jail.
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