Ja’hsir Legare, the accused gunman in the March 2024 shooting at T.G.I. Friday in Loyalsock Township that claimed the life of 15-year-old Ahmeen Palmer, will stand trial, District Judge Gary Whiteman ruled following a preliminary hearing Monday morning.

Ja’hsir, 18, of Freedom House, faces charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a firearm without a license, possession of an instrument of crime, possession of a weapon, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and criminal use of a communication facility

A surprise to many, Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino called the accused shooter’s mother to testify on behalf of the commonwealth.

Johneice Francin Legare, 42, of Williamsport, has been charged with two counts each of criminal attempted aggravated assault, hindering apprehension or prosecution – harboring or concealing, hindering apprehension or prosecution – providing aid, criminal attempted criminal mischief, and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility, possession of an instrument of crime, criminal attempted possession of a weapon, endangering another person, criminal attempted murder of the first degree and criminal conspiracy in aiding aggravated assault in connection with the case.

Johneice testified that on the night of March 2, 2024, she had received a call from Ja’hsir, 17-years-old at the time, informing her that a student that had slapped her 13-year-old son two weeks prior was at T.G.I. Fridays.

The 13-year-old, along with four friends, and Palmer, with four of his friends, were at the restaurant for separate celebrations that night, independent of each other.

She then picked him up from around the corner and proceeded to the restaurant, where she parked in a handicapped stall.

A short time later, Ibn Hakiem Hunter, 20, who was charged late last year with hindering apprehension, riot, obstruction of the administration of law and disorderly conduct in connection with the shooting, arrived and asked for money to pay his Uber.

Both parties of youths exited the restaurant, and Johneice accosted Palmer, asking him why he had slapped her son, she testified.

Palmer allegedly stated he had done so because her son was “showing off in front of the girls,” Johneice testified.

“Well, you can fight my son one-on-one,” Johneice told Palmer, she testified. Her son, however, did not want to fight, she said.

There was no exchange of words between the two groups, she testified.

Johneice said she asked Palmer how the two could quash the feud, however, Palmer and Hunter, of Scotch Plains, N.J., soon became involved in a verbal altercation, trading insults, she testified.

“We can take this to town and bang it out,” Palmer allegedly said to Hunter as he reached for the waistband of his pants, Johneice testified.

It was then that Ja’hsir, who was standing next to his mother, began firing at Palmer, who spun around as he was struck, Johneice testified.

Following the shooting, Johneice and the 13-year-old fled from the restaurant, later picking up Ja’hsir and another youth living with the family, and traveled to Philadelphia, the mother testified. Along the way, Ja’hsir threw both his and Hunter’s cell phones from the vehicle.

“I was scared. I didn’t have any family up here,” she said.

Under cross examination by Defense Attorney Robert Hoffa, Johneice stated that she did not see a gun prior to the shots being fired, and did not hear any exchanges between Ja’hsir and Hunter referencing a gun.

Palmer was pronounced dead at 8:10 p.m. of multiple gunshot wounds at UPMC Williamsport, Lycoming County Coroner Charles Kiessling testified.

Three bullets struck Palmer, including one that impacted his right thigh, clipped his femoral vein and came to rest in his left lung.

Another bullet entered the back of Palmer’s head in an upward motion. The third bullet struck the rear of Palmer’s left thigh, Kiessling said.

Toxicology tests were negative for the presence of ethanol or other drugs, Kiessling testified.

A tense exchange erupted between the DA and Hoffa when Marino called state trooper Brian Siebert to the stand, attempting to establish the amount of time that Ja’hsir had eluded police.

“This is irrelevant to today’s proceedings,” Hoffa said in objecting to the line of questioning.

“Nothing is irrelevant in a preliminary hearing,” Marino countered, a statement Whiteman seemingly took issue with.

“I’ll decide that,” Whiteman said, as he explained his intention to side with the defense.

“It goes to the consciousness of guilt,” Marino urged.

“I’m comfortable with my ruling,” Whiteman persisted.

Under cross examination, Siebert acknowledged that a firearm was found under Palmer’s body, but could not recall the caliber or if any gunshot residue was found on him.

The gun allegedly fired by Ja’hsir has never been recovered, Siebert testified.

Hoffa offered no argument against the charges, other than requesting the dismissal of a charge of criminal use of a communication facility.

“Obviously, the mother’s credibility is not at play for the purposes of today’s proceedings. That will be for a jury to decide,” Hoffa said.

“We know a phone call was placed because his mother testified to it,” Marino argued.

“She testified truthfully and I’m sure it was difficult for her to do,” he told the judge.

“The defendant took off for over a year. There’s no evidence someone else shot the victim. There’s no evidence the shots were fired in self-defense,” Marino said.

No trial date has been set for any of the defendants in the case.