In the winter of 2015, on December 20th, the community of Asbury Park, New Jersey, was shaken by a burst of gunfire on Summerfield Avenue. In the driveway of a residence, 24-year-old Jamar Small, a man celebrated as a local football star and a positive role model, was fatally wounded. He was a graduate of Asbury Park High School and had continued his football career at Texas Southern University, earning a degree in business administration before returning to his hometown.
At the time of his death, he was working as a drug counselor and was a dedicated mentor to the city's youth.
On that Sunday, shortly before noon, Jamar Small and his 25-year-old brother, Tyreek Small, were inside a car, backing out of a driveway when the shooting occurred. Jamar sustained a gunshot wound to his abdomen, while his brother was shot in the back. Both men were rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Despite medical efforts, Jamar Small was pronounced dead later that afternoon. His brother, Tyreek, survived his injuries and was released from the hospital several days later.
The investigation that followed pointed to an altercation that had taken place the previous day as a possible motive. Just minutes before the shooting, the suspect had reportedly threatened a female relative of the Small brothers with a handgun on Bangs Avenue. Law enforcement identified 23-year-old Diquan 'Gudda' Speights, also of Asbury Park, as the shooter. In February 2016, Speights was charged with a string of offenses, including first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder.
The legal proceedings concluded with Diquan Speights pleading guilty to the charges against him. The family of Jamar Small initially expressed their distress over a proposed plea deal, deeming a 20-year sentence unacceptable for the loss of a man who was a pillar in his community and a father. Ultimately, in June 2017, Speights was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for the death of Jamar Small. Under the terms of his sentence, he is required to serve at least 85 percent of his term before becoming eligible for parole. He also received a concurrent 10-year sentence for the aggravated assault of Tyreek Small.
