Father of slain Albany student struggles to cope

Knowing his father worried about him driving on the New York State Thruway, Richard Bailey of Wantagh called home last October after returning to Albany.

"I'm back," Bailey, 22, told his father, James, at 9 p.m. on Oct. 20, after completing the trip. "I made it."

Just over two hours later, the University of Albany senior and aspiring police officer was killed, the victim of a shooting as he walked to his off-campus apartment after watching football with friends, police said.

Wednesday, exactly one year after Richard's death, James Bailey said the arrests last month of three men charged in connection with the murder left him reeling with conflicting emotions.

>>PHOTOS: Memorial for college student from Wantagh killed one year ago

"It's not going to bring closure," he said, in his first interview with Newsday since his son's death.

"Before the guys were caught, I was depressed all the time. Now I go from being excited that they were caught . . . and then I go low. I go back and forth."

Under a warm sun and blue skies, Bailey, his wife, Lisa, and daughter, Katelyn, 19, joined dozens of Richard's friends Wednesday to mark the anniversary of his death at a graveside memorial service at St. Charles Cemetery in East Farmingdale. About 60 people were led in prayers by the Rev. Janusz Mocarski of St. Mary's Church in East Islip, then took turns placing flowers by his grave.

Bailey's grandmother, Judith Drolet of Levittown, sobbed over his grave. His father rubbed his eyes and forehead before composing himself.

Mourners left mementos recalling Bailey's love of sports and his Irish heritage: a New York Jets flag, an oversized Yankees baseball, an Irish flag, photographs.

Classmates from Gen. Douglas MacArthur High School in Levittown and the University at Albany, where Bailey was a sociology and criminal justice major, said after the service Bailey was the life of the party.

"It's surreal that it's been a year without him," said Sasha Krug, 22, of Wantagh. "I can't imagine a good time in this town without him."

His friends last year organized a flag-football game to raise money for a scholarship fund in his name. The fundraiser will be repeated Nov. 28 at MacArthur High School.

Albany police believe Bailey was the victim of an attempted robbery. Bailey was walking to his apartment Oct. 20 when he was struck in the head by a single bullet, police said. He died the next day.

One of the three arrested is in an upstate prison after a conviction in an unrelated case. The others are held without bail, James Bailey said.

Bailey, a retired New York City police officer, said he and his wife plan to attend every court appearance by the suspects and their eventual trial. "It's going to be a long, long year," he said.

Wednesday he recalled getting a call from his son, a week before he died, saying he was planning to come to New York City to take a police entrance exam.

"He said, 'There's a walk-in police exam in the city. Can you take me?' " Bailey said.

His son spent the weekend visiting his parents, friends and grandmother before returning to Albany after taking the New York City Police exam.

"Great weekend," Bailey said. "We took him to dinner. Monday morning we went out for breakfast. He took the exam. I talked to him. He said, 'I think I did pretty well.' "

>>PHOTOS: Memorial for college student from Wantagh killed one year ago