The man grinned at family members as he entered the courthouse on Monday.
Jamar Small graduated from Texas Southern University in Houston with a degree in business administration. (Photo courtesy of the Small family). FREEHOLD -- A man accused of gunning down former Asbury Park star athlete Jamar Small in broad daylight late last year made his first appearance in court Monday, grinning at family members as he entered the courtroom.
Diquan "Gudda" Speights, 23, of Asbury Park, was charged with murder on Friday in connection with the death of Small, 24.
Authorities say Speights shot and killed Small and injured another 25-year-old city man, who is a relative of Small's, after he shot at the two men while they backed out of a driveway on the 1000 block of Summerfield Avenue shortly before noon on Dec. 20, 2015.
Speights was also charged with attempted murder and other weapons offenses.
On Monday, after Monmouth County sheriff's officers brought Speights into the courtroom, he laughed and waved at family members gathered in the courtroom.
But his smile faded as Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Bogner read Speights his charges. When Monmouth County Superiour Court Judge Honora O'Brien Kilgallen asked Speights if he understood the charges, he said, "Yes, mam."
Kilgallen held bail at $1.5 million cash.
After the roughly three-minute hearing concluded, Speights' family members yelled, "We love you, DS," at him as he exited the courtroom.
Jamar Small's mother, Lucy Small, declined to comment outside the courtroom after the brief hearing.
Speights was charged with killing Small following a two-month investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office and the Asbury Park Police Department.
When he was charged, Speights was already in the Monmouth County jail on charges related to an incident that happened just minutes before the shooting.
In that incident, authorities say, Speights threatened a 30-year-old Asbury Park woman, who was related to Small and the 25-year-old shooting victim, with a handgun. He was charged with aggravated assault by pointing a firearm and other weapons offenses.
Speights is facing 30 years to life in state prison if convicted of the most serious crime, murder.
The shooting remains under investigation.
Authorities asked anyone with information to contact Detective Adam Mendes of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes unit at 1-800-533-7443 or Asbury Park police Detective April Bird at 732-774-1300.
Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.