Men Responsible for Murder of 23-year-old Asbury Park Man This Past Summer

FREEHOLD – Four men are named in a 17-count Indictment charging them each with their respective roles in the shooting murder of 23-year-old Jehadje J. McMillian or other incidents that ushered in a rash of gun violence in Asbury Park last summer, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Asbury Park police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired in the 1100 block of Atlantic Avenue in the city around 10:44 p.m. on Friday, June 14, 2019. Police arrived on scene to find McMillian with a gunshot wound and he was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, in Neptune Township, where he was pronounced deceased at 12:14 a.m. of the following day.

Scimel Jackson, 28, of Jay Street in Lakewood; Prince D. Young, 22, of Myrtle Avenue; Chyrod M. Freeman, 21, of Springwood Avenue; and Jahquan F. Allah, 25; all of Asbury Park, are named in the Indictment handed up by a Monmouth County grand jury on Monday.

The four men were each arrested in mid-September 2019 and are being held in the Monmouth County Correctional Institution (MCCI) in Freehold Township pending trial.

Jackson is charged with three counts of first degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, fourth degree Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (hollow point ammunition), third degree Receiving Stolen Property, and two counts of second degree Certain Persons Not to Have Firearms arising out of events preceding the McMillian homicide.

Young is charged with first degree Murder in the June 14, 2019, shooting death of McMillian, second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.

Freeman is charged with first degree Murder in the June 14, 2019, shooting death of McMillian, second degree Certain Persons Not to Have Firearms related to that incident, second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.

Allah is charged with first degree Attempted Murder as a result of firing a handgun at Prince Young during the shooting incident that resulted in the death of McMillian, second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, three counts of second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, fourth degree Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, and third degree Receiving Stolen Property.

If convicted of Murder, Freeman and Young each face a minimum sentence of 30 years in a New Jersey state prison without parole and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, subject to the provisions of the “No Early Release Act” (NERA) requiring them both to serve 85 percent of the sentence imposed before becoming eligible for release on parole. Both men would also be under parole supervision for five years following their release from state prison.  If convicted of Attempted Murder, Allah faces up to 20 years in prison, subject to NERA.

If convicted of any of the second degrees charged in the Indictment, each man faces a sentence of five to ten years in prison. 

If convicted of Receiving Stolen Property, Jackson and Allah each face a sentence of three to five years in prison. 

If convicted of any of the fourth degree crimes, Jackson and Allah each face additional custodial sentences up to 18 months in state prison.

Anyone who feels the need to remain anonymous but has information about a crime can contact Monmouth County Crime Stoppers confidential telephone tip-line by calling 1-800-671-4400; can text “MONMOUTH” plus their tip to 274637; or, they can email a tip via the website at www.monmouthcountycrimestoppers.com

The case is assigned to Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutors Matthew Bogner.

Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and State law.

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