Williamsport, Pa. — During a preliminary hearing Wednesday morning for the mother of an accused shooter, the Lycoming County District Attorney named the alleged shooter and his associates.
Ja’hsir Legare fired four shots at Ahmeen Palmer as he stood next to two vehicles in the parking lot of TGI Friday’s on the Golden Strip in Loyalsock, according to the argument presented by Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino.
Two of the bullets fired from the 9mm gun struck Palmer—one in each leg. As he was lying facedown on the ground, Legare fired one more shot into the back of Palmer’s head, Marino said during a preliminary hearing at the Lycoming County Courthouse. The other two shots struck parked vehicles.
The Commonwealth argued for charges to be added to Johniece Legare’s docket, including first-degree murder. Legare is the mother of Ja’hsir and Ja’Bree Starks. Starks was allegedly slapped by the victim two weeks prior to the shooting.
There are ten charges in total that were approved for trial Wednesday, but the information remains sealed, according to Marino.
Marino named Kareem Jefferson, Ibn Hunter, Kashiem Richardson, Shawntacz Andrews, and Lateaf Henderson as associates of either Ja’hsir Legare, Johniece Legare, or Ja’Bree Starks, the younger brother of the accused shooter.
Marino said Hunter brought the weapon to TGI Friday’s and met Ja’hsir and Johniece Legage at their vehicle in the parking lot before the shooting.
A second preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled this afternoon. Additional information will be added following the hearing and as it becomes available.
The following is an update from the afternoon hearing, which was a preliminary hearing involving another person accused of helping in the shooting.
The charges against a man accused of helping with a shooting at TGI Friday's in March were thrown out in an afternoon preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Not a single piece of evidence was presented in court on Wednesday afternoon linking a man accused of giving a gun to a person charged with first-degree murder.
Ibn Hunter was arrested in March and charged in connection to a shooting at TGI Friday’s that claimed the life of a 15-year-old. Due to the affidavit being sealed, Hunter has remained incarcerated awaiting his day in court.
On Wednesday, charges against Hunter, which included being an accessory to first-degree murder, were tossed by Magistrate Judge Gary Whiteman.
“We’re very happy,” said Kyle Rude, Defense Attorney for Hunter. “This is a perfect display of the justice system.”
Rude went on to mention how the case being sealed prevented justice from happening sooner. Hunter was arrested in March, but remained incarcerated due to the affidavit being sealed. “The process should not be sealed and open to the public,” Rude said. “He would have been released months ago.”
It appeared Marino felt the same way. When asked if charges would be refiled Marino responded saying “we need more evidence.”
Marino also said no other charges would be filed, despite the fact that he had named several individuals as “known associates” of the shooter in an earlier hearing. Nobody else named in court Wednesday will be charged, according to Marino.
Ja’bree Starks, the brother of the shooter, is in custody. He has been charged as a juvenile, according to Marino. He was not charged with murder, Marino added.
According to Marino, Ja’hsir Legare remains at large and no murder weapon has been found. Johneice Legare—mother of Ja’hsir and Ja’bree—had her charges bound over for trial following a preliminary hearing in the morning. She remained incarcerated on denied bail.
All charges against Hunter have been dismissed. Rude asked for two counts of aggravated assault, one open count of homicide accomplice liability, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of a weapon to be dismissed during his closing argument.
Marino said the affidavit for the case will remain sealed until August 5.
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