Williamsport, Pa. — Details regarding the shooting death of a juvenile in the parking lot of TGI Friday’s have been made available for the first time since being sealed.
On March 2, 15-year-old Ahmeen Palmer of Williamsport was shot and killed in the parking lot of TGI Fridays on East Third Street in Loyalsock Township. The Lycoming County DA has suggested the crime to be gang related. The suspected shooter is not in custody.
A timeline of events leading up to the shooting is clearer, but key details linking juveniles and witnesses named in a hearing on July 24 to the crime are slim.
People the District Attorney's office named as "associates" and whose mugshot-style photos were displayed in court were not named in an affidavit. There is no mention of gang affiliations in the affidavit after Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino claimed it was “gang related” during a press conference in March.
Charges filed against one man were ultimately thrown out after a preliminary hearing last week. Marino said that person possessed a gun, but that detail is not provided in the affidavit. The person was never connected to a gun through evidence in the complaint.
The unsealed affidavit does name the accused shooter, Ja'hsir Legare, and his brother, Ja'bree Starks, being with their mother, Johneice Legare, at the time of her arrest in Philadelphia. According to Marino, Ja'bree Starks has been processed and charges as a juvenile. Ja'hsir Legare—the accused shooter—remains at large.
According to the unsealed documents, the following is a timeline of events leading to the shooting death of Palmer at TGI Friday’s in Loyalsock Township:
5:15 p.m. A witness and two juveniles arrive at TGI Friday’s.
5:21 p.m. A second group that included a juvenile and Ja’bree Starks arrived at the restaurant.
6:08 p.m. Witness 2, three juveniles, and the victim are captured on surveillance video as they arrive at the restaurant. It’s noted in the affidavit that Ja’bree Starks doesn’t like the second group. According to testimony at Johniece Legare’s preliminary hearing, Ja’bree had been slapped by the victim two weeks prior.
6:12 p.m. Ja’bree Starks called Ja’hsir Legare’s cellphone. They speak for exactly 53 seconds. Ja’hsir’s device shows up in the 1800 block of Hazel Drive.
6:16 p.m. Ja’hsir Legare called Johneice Legare. The two speak for one minute and 46 seconds. Johneice Legare’s phone is consistent with being in the area of 1610 Randall Circle, her home address.
6:17 p.m. A witness is picked up by an Uber driver from his work. He requests to be dropped off at his home in the 1900 block of Lincoln Drive through the Uber app.
6:18 p.m. Ja’hsir Legare calls the witness. The two men speak for exactly 4 minutes and 53 seconds. During the conversation, the witness redirects the Uber to TGI Friday’s.
6:19 p.m. Ja’bree Starks calls Johneice Legare. She is heard telling him “Ja’bree, I am on my way” on Xfinity video surveillance inside her home. Johneice Legare is recorded leaving her home and going to her car on surveillance video from Lycoming Housing Authority.
6:21 p.m. Johneice Legare called Ja’hsir Legare. The conversation lasts for nine seconds.
6:22 p.m. Johneice and Ja’hsir Legare’s cell phones both ping from the 1800 block of Hazel drive.
6:24 p.m. Johneice and Ja’hsir Legare’s device data is consistent with being in the area of TGI Friday’s. Johneice Legare called Ja’bree Starks, who is inside the restaurant. The call lasts for 25 seconds. The witness arrives and goes directly to Johneice Legare’s vehicle. They get money to tip the Uber driver. The witness claims Johneice Legare is sitting in the driver’s seat next to a black male with dark clothing and a mask. The male is identified as Ja’hsir Legare. The witness pays the Uber driver while Johneice Legare moves the car.
6:25 p.m. The witness calls Ja’hsir Legare. The two men talk for three minutes and 55 seconds.
6:26 p.m. Johneice Legare calls Ja’bree Starks. They talk for one minute and 10 seconds.
6:27 p.m. Ja’bree Starks and a juvenile approach Palmer and his group. They challenge Palmer and his friends to a fight outside. The challenge is accepted. Both groups leave the restaurant together.
6:27 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Both groups engage in a verbal altercation in the parking lot. Ja’bree Starks and a juvenile argue with the victim. Johneice and Ja’hsir Legare exit their vehicle. Both approach the victim. Johneice Legare allegedly tells Palmer he is going to fight her son one-on-one. Ja’hsir fires five shots toward Palmer striking him in the legs and head. A vehicle parked in the lot is struck twice. A second is grazed.
During the investigation police find five 9mm shell casings in the parking lot of TGI Friday’s. Several witnesses identify Ja’hsir Legare, according to an affidavit signed by Marino. “[Name redacted] intentionally concealed the identity of Ja’hsir Legare to prevent law enforcement from apprehending him,” investigators wrote in the affidavit. All charges filed against the witness were thrown out this month during a preliminary hearing.
6:33 p.m. Johneice Legare’s vehicle is recorded speeding down Tinsman Avenue. She runs a stop sign.
6:34 p.m. Johneice Legare, Ja’hsir Legare, and Ja’bree Starks are recorded as they pull up at the Randall Circle apartment. All three exit Johneice Legare’s vehicle and go into the apartment.
6:35 p.m. Johneice Legare is heard saying “I don’t care. Grab whatever! Grab whatever! Let’s go, f**k the clothes!” on a recording from inside the apartment. Ja’hsir is heard responding, “I dropped my phone.” Johneice replies with “Ja’hsir, in the car, let’s go!” She continues with, “Do not. Don’t grab no clothes, just go, just go! Ja’bree, just go!” Ja’bree can be heard crying in the background. Johneice Legare is finally captured saying, “Ja’bree, just go!” All three are recorded as they leave the apartment and get into Johneice Legare’s car.
6:44 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Johneice Legare and Ja’hsir Legare’s device data is consistent with travel on Interstate 180 eastbound in Montoursville.
6:50 p.m. Johneice Legare calls the witness. The call ends in an abnormal completion.
7:06 p.m. Johneice Legare’s device data is consistent with being on Interstate 80 in the area of Northumberland County.
8:12 p.m. Johneice Legare’s device data is consistent with leaving Interstate 80 and getting onto Interstate 476 south in the area of the Pocono Mountains in Carbon County.
8:58 p.m. and 9:16 p.m. Johneice Legare’s device data is consistent with being on Interstate 476 south near the Allentown Service Plaza Rest Stop in Lehigh County.
10:06 p.m. Johneice Legare’s device data is consistent with getting off Interstate 476 in the area of West Conshohocken in Montgomery County.
10:32 p.m. Johneice Legare’s device data is consistent with being in Philadelphia.
March 6, 2024 Johneice Legare is taken into custody at a home in the 3400 block of North Warnock Street in Philadelphia. She is initially charged with hindering apprehension. Ja’bree Starks and Ja’hsir Legare are inside the home when Johneice is arrested.
While incarcerated at the Lycoming County Prison, Johneice Legare allegedly told an inmate her son shot a person at TGI Friday’s. She didn’t identify if it was either Ja’bree Starks or Ja’hsire Legare, according to the complaint. Johneice Legare allegedly admitted to driving her son to Philadelphia. Johneice told the witness she didn’t want to talk about anything else and the case was sealed, according to the affidavit.
Charges for Johneice Legare, including accomplice to first-degree murder, were approved for trial by Magistrate Judge Gary Whiteman last week. Johneice Legare’s affidavit remains sealed.
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