Albert Irby was 17 when he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the robbery and murder of North Side grocer Sam Shaheen.
Now 65, Irby was in an Allegheny County courtroom hoping to benefit from a 2012 appellate court ruling ordering the re-sentencing of all prisoners given life sentences as minors.
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"The judge could have given him any minimum sentence, but life had to be at the top end of the sentence,” said Scott Coffey, who is Irby’s attorney.
In September 1969, Shaheen was behind the counter of his store when Irby entered with a gun, according to court records. Irby shot Shaheen in the hand and, when he didn't comply, shot him in the head.
North Siders like T. Jackson were too young to remember the crime’s impact on the community, but the victim's family was so upset they closed the store and many moved away.
“He did his time - everybody deserves a second chance,” Jackson said.
Irby said he was innocent then and repeated it in court Wednesday, but Judge Beth Lazzara re-sentenced Irby to 48 years to life, telling Irby, “I have very serious concerns about your willingness to accept conditions of your parole"
Irby will have served 48 years this month, so he’ll be up for parole in a less than two weeks.