Third murder suspect is held

Teen could face charges in death of deliveryman

By Edward Munger Jr. and Steven Cook
Gazette Reporters

December 3, 2000
SCHENECTADY - A 16-year-old Yates Village resident identified by police Saturday as a third suspect in last week's pizza-delivery murder turned himself in to police Saturday night.

Marty Humphrey arrived at the Schenectady police station shortly before 7 p.m., having been driven there with his uncle Humphrey by Schenectady City Councilman David Bouck, Bouck said.

Bouck had received a phone call from a friend asking if he would escort Humphrey to the police station, he said.

"He didn't say too much of anything," Bouck said of Humphrey's short drive to the station. "He seemed very remorseful and extremely upset."

Police identified Humphrey Saturday as a third suspect in the slaying of 38-year-old pizza deliveryman Hassan Noorzai. In an attempt to locate him, police enlisted the help of family members to urge him to turn himself in.

No warrant was issued for his arrest.

Bouck said he believed the family pleas helped Humphrey decide to go to the police.

Bouck was contacted by the woman, whom he identified only as a Hamilton Hill resident, shortly after 6:30 p.m. Saturday, he said. He said trust he had built up with the woman through his council duties prompted her to call him.

He then drove to the house, where he found Humphrey and several people whom he believed were family members. He declined to give the address.

Humphrey and Humphrey's uncle got into Bouck's car for the drive to the station. The whole episode -- from the phone call to the police station -- lasted little more than 20 minutes, he said.

Late Saturday night, police declined to confirm whether Humphrey had indeed turned himself in to police.

Authorities had said earlier Saturday afternoon that Humphrey is known to be an acquaintance of the two other teen-agers now facing murder charges in the brutal beating death Tuesday of Noorzai.

Other suspects

Isaiah Curry, 15, of 18 Park Place, and Theodore H. Haynes, 16, of 366 Duane Ave., both are charged with second-degree murder in connection with Noorzai's death.

Police said Noorzai was beaten with baseball bats while making a delivery to apartment B-28 at Yates Village, one of the Schenectady Municipal Housing Authority's units.

Noorzai suffered massive head injuries and died Wednesday. Noorzai came to the United States 18 years ago and leaves a wife of 12 years and two children, one age 6 and the other 11 months.

Bouck, who is concluding his fifth year on the council, said this is the first time he's been involved in helping someone surrender and he said he's glad it ended the way it did.

"It was a very difficult situation for everybody involved," he said, "But it worked out for the best for everyone involved."

At an afternoon news conference, family members of Humphrey gathered at police headquarters, urging Humphrey to turn himself in.

"We love you, Marty, and we need you to come home," said Debra Paul, Humphrey's mother.

Paul described her son as one who usually keeps to himself. She said he had just completed his general equivalency diploma and was soon to start work at a nursing home.

"I think he's innocent," Paul said. "I know Marty wouldn't hurt anybody."

Paul was accompanied by her boyfriend, Michael Williams, and Kimberly Humphrey, Marty Humphrey's sister.

Schenectady Police Detective Lt. Jack Falvo said before Humphrey's surrender that investigators had secured a substantial amount of evidence and awaited Humphrey's input before making a final determination concerning what happened Tuesday night.

Bats secured

Falvo said detectives have secured the two baseball bats believed to be the murder weapons. Falvo said there is no indication that drugs or alcohol were factors.

Humphrey also is being looked at as a suspect in a non-fatal pizza delivery robbery at Yates Village in recent weeks. At this point, however, it is unclear whether Humphrey was involved in the Nov. 20 robbery of Nico's NY Pizza delivery man Eric Smith, who was robbed at the same apartment, Falvo said.

"We're looking at Marty's culpability in both of these crimes," the officer said.

Fifteen year-old Yates Village resident Edward Blanchard was charged Thursday with first-degree robbery in connection with the Nov. 20 crime.

Falvo said police think they have identified three suspects in Tuesday's slaying. But detectives needed to speak with Humphrey before a final determination of roles can be made, Falvo said.

"There's still more work to be done on this case at this time," Falvo said.

But Falvo said investigators are convinced that the assailants lured Noorzai into the vacant apartment with the intention of robbing and killing him.

"I think their actions speak loudly. Undoubtedly, there was intent there," Falvo said.

Noorzai was killed during the robbery of an undisclosed amount of money, but Falvo described the sum as "insignificant."

Paul said she believes her son's involvement in the crime is a result of his acquaintances during the past year.

Paul said she last saw Humphrey on Tuesday, prior to the killing. She said he did not tell her where he was going.

Posted December 23, 2000