Thursday, October 1, 2026
A Baldwin teenager has been charged with murder in connection with a fatal shooting that took place at a house party in Hempstead last month, Nassau County police said.
Jacob McMillan, 18, was arrested and faces charges including second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, and burglary stemming from the Nov. 22 shooting that claimed the life of Amira McLeod, 19, of Queens.
According to Detective Lt. George Darienzo of the Homicide Squad, officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert at 10:50 p.m. and found all three victims with gunshot wounds. McCleod was pronounced dead at the scene by a Northwell paramedic.
Two 20-year-old men were taken to a nearby hospital, listed in stable condition at that time. Darienzo did not share their names due to ongoing legal proceedings.
McLeod, a sophomore at Monroe University in the Bronx and member of its basketball team, had reportedly attended the party after receiving an invitation from a friend in the area.
"We are deeply grateful to the Nassau County Police Department for their diligent and swift work in apprehending a suspect in the tragic death of Amira McCleod," Monroe officials said in a statement.
"This development is a meaningful step forward, even as we recognize that the path ahead remains profoundly difficult for Amira’s family and all who loved her as they continue their pursuit of justice. As the legal process proceeds, we remain steadfast in our support for Amira’s family, teammates, and friends. Our hearts are with them as they endure this painful journey."
Darienzo said that McMillan arrived at the gathering with four friends after seeing the event promoted on social media. An altercation allegedly broke out between McMillan and the host — described as a Nassau Community College student by police — over party security and whether guests were bringing weapons.
McMillan is accused of stepping back from the group and firing three rounds, striking McLeod and two others.
“There was no altercation between the victim and the suspect,” Darienzo said. “She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The house, believed to be a short-term rental, was not owned by any of the attendees, according to police.
McMillan, who has a prior arrest for criminal possession of stolen property, will also face charges related to a separate burglary case from September, police said. The gun used in the shooting has not yet been recovered, and officials have found no evidence of gang affiliation.
McMillan is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 3, at First District Court in Hempstead.
