Police arrive at the scene on Michigan Avenue in Atlantic City after the March 21 shooting. (Photo by Danajha Bell)
Gunfire broke out right after the shooter said to one of his victims, “What’s up, lil’ cuz?”
Who uttered those words and began firing through a rear window during a party on March 21 in Atlantic City was in dispute during a court hearing Monday.
Prosecutors say it was Jamal Miller, a 21-year-old Atlantic City man now facing attempted murder charges in connection with the shooting of three teenagers at an Airbnb rental home on Michigan Avenue.
One victim was shot in the spine, another in the hip and the third was wounded in the abdomen. Their names have not been released by authorities.
Miller was charged after one of the victims told investigators that he recognized Miller’s voice when he allegedly said, “What’s up, lil’ cuz?” right before the shooting began, according to prosecutors.
But Miller’s public defender, John Bjorklund, contended that no one positively identified Miller as the shooter. He called the voice identification “incredibly weak.”
“Identification is based on four words, “What’s up, lil’ cuz?” Bjorklund told Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Dorothy Garrabrant during the hearing.
“Judge, that is incredibly weak identification,” Bjorklund added. “No one else makes any identification whatsoever.”
Garrabrant, however, ruled that Miller remains a danger to his alleged victims and should remain in custody at the Atlantic County jail pending trial.
“Defendant’s actions were unprovoked and unjustified. Collectively, these facts demonstrate the defendant’s danger to these victims and other persons in the community,” Garrabrant said.
Miller’s next court hearing is scheduled for June 2. He briefly spoke to the judge at the end of the hearing, asking her if he could request a motion to suppress the evidence against him.
Garrabrant told him that such a motion would be part of the court proceedings later on.
”Mr. Miller, that’s for another day,” she said.
Prosecutors allege that Miller was one of two shooters who opened fire during the March 21 party in Atlantic City at the Airbnb rental home. Miller allegedly began shooting through a rear window, while the other gunman fired at people who fled from the front of the house. The second shooter has not yet been arrested.
Miller is facing a total of 19 charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon.
One of the victims of the shooting dated Miller's girlfriend while Miller was previously in jail. He was Miller’s intended target, a witness told police, according to an affidavit describing details of the shooting.
Miller and the victim had a confrontation at a convenience store the day before the shooting, prosecutors said.
According to the affidavit, video surveillance obtained by police clearly showed Miller and the victim outside the store.
