18-year-old arrested in deadly shooting at Long Island house party
A teenager is charged with murder in connection with a deadly shooting last month at a house party on Long Island.
The Nov. 22 shooting on Willow Avenue in Hempstead killed 19-year-old Amira McLeod, of Queens, and injured two 20-year-old men.
The case has shaken the athletic community on Long Island, in the Bronx and in New Rochelle. McLeod was a talented and respected forward on Monroe University's Bronx campus basketball team. The injured men, whose names have not been released, play football at Nassau Community College.
Deadly shooting during college house party
Witnesses said the shots rang out during a house party, and that the residence is usually rented out to college students.
Nassau County Police confirmed Wednesday the hosts were students from Nassau Community College, and there were roughly two dozen people in attendance.
Police said McLeod was not the intended target.
Police said the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Jacob McMillan of Baldwin, was part of a group that may have crashed the party after seeing an invite on social media. McMillan, who has multiple prior arrests, was asked to leave because he was armed, police added. Prosecutors said there is surveillance video of him being patted down outside of the party and video of him on a Long Island Rail Road train.
"The suspect approaches a party, while our victim, Amira McLeod, is standing nearby the corner," Det. Lt. George Darienzo said Wednesday. "There's an altercation that takes place between our party host that's located at that house and our suspect. The suspect backs away from a group of people and begins to shoot a handgun."
Baldwin teen facing murder charges
Police said McMillan is now charged with murder, attempted murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He also faces charges in an open burglary case from September. He has pleaded not guilty.
Investigators have not yet recovered the weapon used in the shooting, police said.
McLeod, a sophomore, lived in the dorms at Monroe University's New Rochelle campus and was beloved by her classmates, according to her coaches. Her bio on the school's website said she had dreams of owning a clothing and sneaker store.