New Year’s Eve murder suspect waives hearing

Will be arraigned in August

LOWER CHICHESTER » A Chester man waived a preliminary hearing Thursday on murder and related charges for a New Year’s Eve shooting that left one man dead and another critically wounded.

Jahmier Council, 22, is facing two dozen charges including murder in the first degree, attempted murder, robbery, conspiracy and aggravated assault. A co-defendant, Zymear Lamar Jones, 23, of Wilmington, was previously arraigned on similar charges and is scheduled for a status conference Aug. 15 before Common Pleas Court Judge George Pagano.

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer previously said the defendants planned to steal a half-pound of marijuana from the murder victim, 18-year-old Nasir Allen, when they went to the Wawa at 1439 Market St. in the Linwood section of the township on Dec. 31.

Lower Chichester police officers were dispatched to the Wawa about 2:33 p.m. for reports of a shooting and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, according to an affidavit of probable cause written by Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division Detective Dave Tyler.

Allen was pronounced dead at the scene and was later found to have died from a single gunshot wound to the back, according to the affidavit. The other unidentified victim suffered gunshot wounds to his back and was transported to Crozer-Chester Medical Center for treatment.

Investigators examined surveillance videos that showed a man inside the Wawa talking on his phone and wearing gray or white sweat pants, white sneakers, and a red and black hooded jacket, according to the affidavit. He loiters in the store and does not make any purchases, then goes outside and continues to loiter, the affidavit says.

That man, later identified by witnesses as Jones, allegedly shot at the victims after they pulled into the parking lot in a red Corolla and exited the car. Further investigation revealed that Jones was wanted on a bench warrant for an assault charge and was ineligible to possess a firearm, the affidavit says.

Investigators spoke to a third person in the Corolla who said Allen and the other victim had traveled to the Wawa to sell a person a half-pound of marijuana for $1,000, according to the affidavit.

That witness claimed that a thin Black male with dreadlocks wearing a dark nylon bubble coat and dark sweat pants got into the Corolla to make the transaction. That person was later identified by witnesses as Council, the affidavit says.

Council allegedly handed over a sum less than the amount agreed to using counterfeit bills. A struggle ensued with the witness and Council attempted to exit the vehicle, according to the affidavit. The unidentified victim got out of the car, and that was when Jones ran up and shot him before fleeing the scene, according to the affidavit.

Allen and the witness also exited the vehicle after hearing the gunshot, the affidavit says. The witness reported hearing another gunshot and saw Allen collapse to the ground, according to the affidavit. Council then also allegedly fled.

The two men were later arrested and charged separately. Council is scheduled for formal arraignment at the County Courthouse in Media on August 17.