A former all-state high school football player, Jamar Small, 24, was gunned down in broad daylight on an Asbury Park street late last year. Watch video
Jamar Small graduated from Texas Southern University in Houston with a degree in business administration. (Photo courtesy of the Small family). ASBURY PARK -- Authorities have charged a city man in connection with the shooting death of a former star athlete and beloved member of the community.
Diquan "Gudda" Speights, 23, was charged with killing 24-year-old Jamar Small, who was gunned down in broad daylight late last year, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on Friday.
Speights was also charged with attempted murder after a 25-year-old man, who was related to Small, was also injured in the shooting, which occurred in the 1000 block of Summerfield Avenue on Dec. 20.
In announcing the arrest, Gramiccioni released new information about a possible motive of the shooting. Just minutes before the incident, Speights allegedly threatened a 30-year-old Asbury Park woman who was related to the two men with a handgun.
Speights was arrested that same day and charged with aggravated assault by pointing a firearm and other weapon offenses in connection with the altercation with the woman. He was taken to the Monmouth County jail and bail was set at $400,000 cash.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the shooting death of Small, who has been hailed as a model citizen in the Asbury Park community, and the 25-year-old man, who authorities have not identified, continued.
During the course of the two-month investigation, authorities learned Speights had shot at the two men shortly before noon while they were inside a car and backing out of the driveway, Gramiccioni said.
Small suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen and was lying on the ground when first responders arrived. He was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was pronounced dead later that day.
The 25-year-old man was shot in the back and also taken to the hospital, but was treated and released several days later.
The news of Small's death rattled the Asbury Park community.
As a quarterback of the high school's football team, Small led the team to three state championship titles. He continued his football career at Texas Southern University, where he studied business administration.
His mother, Lucy Small, told NJ Advance Media her son had dreams of going to the NFL. Despite his short-lived success, Small never forgot where he came from, those close to him have said. He would always come back to mentor and coach the current student athletes.
Teko Hammary, who coached Small when he played youth football in Asbury Park, said he knew Small was going to be a "special person" even at a young age.
"Every year, we as coaches in the community ... we try to develop young men that can be the living examples to their peers. ... Jamar was our shining star," Hammary said.
Speights was charged with killing Small while he was already in the Monmouth County jail for the incident that occurred shortly before the shooting.
Speights was charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and certain persons not to posses weapons.
He remains in the county jail in lieu of $1.5 million cash bail.
If convicted of the most serious crime, murder, Speights faces a minimum sentence of 30 years in state prison and a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
The investigation remains active and is being led by Detective Adam Mendes of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes unit and Asbury Park police Detective April Bird. Gramiccioni said he believes there are other people who may have relevant information that have not come forward.
He urged anyone with information to call Mendes at 1-800-533-7443 or Bird at 732-774-1300.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.