With no one to receive the $10,000 reward Rudy A. Ciccotti had promised to give anyone with information that would lead to the arrest of the shooter involved in Kathina Thomas’ death, Ciccotti decided to find a use for the funds.
Ten-year-old Thomas was killed in late May when a stray bullet struck her in the back as she played on a First Street doorstep in Albany. Days after the young girl was killed, Ciccotti made an oath to give $10,000 as a reward to anyone who could lead the Albany Police Department to the shooter.
Less than a month later, the alleged shooter, Jermaine Timmons, was apprehended by Albany police. But, according to Ciccotti, police made the arrest based on their own information so the reward money was not needed.
On Tuesday, July 1, Ciccotti found a new use for the money when he handed a check for $5,000 to Thomas’ mother, Shondell McAllister.
I had access to the reward money, and what I wanted to do was to do something for Kathina’s mom, said Ciccotti.
He said that the donation was made in the name of the Ciccotti Center in Colonie, but according to Barbara Boodram, the donation is not affiliated with the Center, but rather `just a nice gesture from Rudy.`
McAllister declined to comment on the gift, saying, `I am not going to go public for your newspaper about my family.`
A man who has never had children of his own, Ciccotti said he had been following Thomas’ story because he sympathizes with the grief the child’s family is going through. He even rushed to Thomas’ wake when he saw the announcement on the television.
`When I saw that young lady lying out in her casket — it was so sad. She was so beautiful, in a little dress, a little doll in each arm. That’s what it’s all about,` he said.
Ciccotti handed the check to McAllister at the Rudy Ciccotti Center on 30 Aviation Road, Colonie, and said that the woman was grateful.
`She doesn’t speak much English, but she was hugging me to death,` he said.
McAllister was not the only one receiving a donation from Ciccotti that day.
`I also gave $1,500 to Pastor Charlie,` Ciccotti said, referring to Pastor Charlie Muller of the Victory Church in Albany.
Ciccotti donated the money to Muller to go toward an anti-gun program called Put It Down, which was started in the weeks following Thomas’ death, to encourage city youth to give up their guns.
According to Muller, the program offers the kids a $150 non-refundable-for-cash gift certificate for Crossgates Mall in exchange for turning over their guns.
`Over the Fourth of July weekend, I believe we got about six or seven guns,` said Muller.
Muller said the program has collected about 32 guns in the few weeks since it has been operating, averaging more than one gun a day.
As for how Ciccotti’s donation will help the program, Muller said, `It’s already gone.`
Muller is advertising the program and calling on area businesses to help out. Right now, the program is focusing on the Arbor Hill area, as well as other inner city neighborhoods.
According to Muller, it is not only children who are exchanging guns with the church.
`I got one gun from a mother,` said Muller. `Her son was in prison.`
Muller said the church has received guns that the people submitting them owned themselves, as well as guns that people knew of in various locations throughout the neighborhoods.
`It’s working,` said Muller. `Give it six months and maybe the shootings will go away.`
Muller said the church plans to continue the program for the rest of the year, then evaluate it in terms of continuation for next year.
To make a donation to the Put It Down program, contact Muller at 857-0726.“