Asbury Man charged in murder of football star Jamal Small
Speights in Monmouth County Jail in lieu of $1.5 million bail
A 23-year-old Asbury Park man has been charged in the Dec. 20 double shooting along the 1000 block of Summerfield Avenue that claimed the life of local football star Jamal Small, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced in a news release.
Diquan “Gudda” Speights has been charged with first degree murder, first degree attempted murder, second degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, second degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and the second degree charge of being a certain person not to possess weapons.
From the news release:
On December 20, 2015, at 11:56 a.m., patrol units from the Asbury Park Police Department responded to the area of the 1000 block of Summerfield Avenue after receiving several reports of gunshots.
Upon arrival, officers located two victims in the driveway of a residence on Summerfield Avenue. One of the victims, a 24-year-old Asbury Park man, sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen and was lying on the ground.
The other victim, a 25-year-old Asbury Park man and a relative of the 24-year-old victim, had sustained a gunshot wound to his back and was standing in the driveway.
Both victims were transported by the Asbury Park Fire Department EMS and MONOC paramedics to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township.
Despite lifesaving efforts the 24-year-old victim died from his injuries and was pronounced dead at 2:51 p.m. The 25-year-old victim was treated for his injuries and was released from the hospital several days later.
The Asbury Park Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the incident, with assistance from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau.
The investigation revealed that the shooter had fired shots at the two victims while they were inside of a car, backing out of a driveway on Summerfield Avenue.
During the course of the initial investigation, police learned that just minutes prior to the shooting, in the 1000 block of Bangs Avenue, Asbury Park, Speights had threatened a 30 year-old Asbury Park female with a handgun.
Police also learned that the female victim was a relative of the two male shooting victims.
As a result of learning that information, later on the same day, the Asbury Park Police Department charged Speights with aggravated assault by pointing a firearm, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, tampering with evidence, and being a certain person not to possess weapons.
Speights was remanded to Monmouth County Jail in lieu of $400,000 cash only bail, as set by the Honorable Honora O’Brien Kilgallen, J.S.C.
On Friday, Judge Kilgallen issued a $1.5 million cash only bail, ordered Speights have no contact with the victims, and that a bail source hearing must be held should Speights attempt to post bail.
Speights faces a minimum 30 years to life imprisonment for the murder charge. If convicted he would be subject to the ‘No Early Release Act’ [NERA] provision, requiring him to serve 85 percent of any imposed sentence over 30 years before being eligible for parole. He would also remain under supervision for five years after release from prison.
If convicted of attempted murder, Speights faces up to 20 years, subject to the NERA provision. He faces up to 10 years each for the possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and being a certain person not to possess weapons.
Despite Speights’ arrest, the investigation remains open as law enforcement officials seek witnesses who may have relevant information concerning the events leading up to the shooting as well as the shooting itself.
The investigation is being led by Detective Adam Mendes of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau and Detective April Bird of the Asbury Park Police Department.
Anyone with information about this shooting is urged to call Detective Mendes at 1-800-533-7443 or Detective Bird at 732-774-1300.
The case is assigned to Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Bogner of the Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Bureau at the Asbury Park Satellite Office. Speights is represented by Joshua Hood, Esq., of Freehold.
——————————————————————————-
Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.
