Teen denies fatal shooting of another at rink

A teenager accused in the fatal shooting of another teen outside a popular skating rink in Union Township last December pleaded not guilty yesterday in Superior Court in Elizabeth, and his attorney said autopsy reports as well as witness accounts point to Jaquan Bell's innocence.

Bell, 17, faces up to life in prison if convicted of the murder of 16-year-old Jean D'haiti at the rink's Christmas night skating party at Skate 22. Bell, who was 16 at the time of the incident, is being charged as an adult.

Several fights broke out inside Skate 22 leading up to the shooting, which occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 26, authorities said. Nearly 700 people were attending a Christmas party there, which ended early when organizers escorted out some unruly partygoers.

Outside the rink, authorities say a group of Haitian youths chased a group of alleged Bloods gang members to the parking lot. Among those fleeing was Bell, who authorities identified as a Bloods gang member.

As he ran, Bell whirled around and fired several shots, one of which struck D'haiti, prosecutors said. He died at the scene.

Michael Robbins, Bell's attorney, said he will seek to reduce bail from $400,000 to $150,000 and will also seek a motion to dismiss the case based on a medical examiner's report that reveal D'haiti was shot in the back of the head.

"The laws of physics make it impossible for members of a pursued group to shoot the fatal shot," Robbins said. "The fatal shot could not have come from the pursued group."

In addition, witnesses have reported seeing a dark-skinned Haitian male entering the skating rink with a semiautomatic gun -- the same type of weapon that delivered the fatal shot -- shortly after the shooting, Robbins said.

Robbins said he believes D'haiti was shot by a member of his own group, having been caught in the crossfire of shots.

Union County Prosecutor's Office spokesman John Holl said the facts of the case will come out in court.

"We'll just let the charges speak for themselves," he said.

Robbins said the larger group of Haitian youths was armed with weapons -- including a baseball bat, machete and semiautomatic handgun -- and there have been long-standing disputes between the two groups.

"What occurred to D'haiti is a tragedy, but it did not occur at the hands of my client," Robbins said.

Bell continues to be held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Union County. The next court appearance is Nov. 16.