Trial begins in Union County for four men in drive-by killing of 13-year-old girl
The mother of a 13-year-old girl killed in a drive-by shooting in 2021 in Monroe said she forgives those to blame, but wants justice for her daughter.
A trial at the Union County Judicial Center began Monday and is expected to last weeks.
Four men — Jamerik Garmon, Jamari Crowder, Darius Roland and Jamarius McLain — are accused of killing Bay’Asia Loyalti Allah. They appeared in court with their attorneys Monday morning, and jury selection began in the afternoon.
The four men are facing first-degree murder charges and Garmon is also facing a possession of a firearm by a felon charge.
Superior Court Judge Robert Stuart Albright affirmed with the four men and their attorneys that they admitted they were all at the scene the day Loyalti was shot and killed, and McLain also admitted he fired a weapon that day. But they otherwise pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charges.
Roland is represented by attorney Khalif Rhodes, Crowder by Aaron Lee, McLain by Ken Swain, and Garmon by Ronard Dixon.
Loyalti was shot while sitting with friends at a picnic table on July 13, 2021. Loyalti was near her family’s home on Icemorlee Drive when someone in a black Ford Freestyle shot at the kids and then drove away. Loyalti and her friends were waiting for a DoorDash delivery.
Roland was 19 at the time of his arrest, McLain was 18, and Crowder 22.
Loyalti’s mother, Yvette Allen, appeared in court Monday afternoon as jury selection began.
“I do forgive everybody,” Allen said in an interview with The Charlotte Observer. “I don’t have hate in my heart for anybody. I just want justice for my little girl.”
Allen sat with Tina Sykes-Mosley, the founder of Mothers Advocating for Real Change and Unwavering Support, which was named after her son Marcus. The group MARCUS is now a nonprofit that supports families who have lost loved ones to homicide.
Sykes-Mosley will support Allen with meals each day throughout the trial so she doesn’t have to cook, as well as members who will sit with her each day.
Sykes-Mosley, whose own son was killed in Burlington on Sept. 29, 2020, said she doesn’t have much hope in the justice system. The trial in her son’s killing resulted in a mistrial on Sept. 24. She said she thinks courts do too much to protect defendants.
Allen said she was grateful for the support she’s received from MARCUS, and especially Sykes-Mosley.
“It means a lot and I appreciate her thoughts, kindness, and presence,” she said.
At a memorial service shortly after her death, Loyalti’s family said she was always dancing and singing, loved going to church, and was on her middle school dance team.
Police tried to resuscitate her at the scene, said Assistant District Mary Elizabeth Usher said during pretrial motions Monday. Monroe police said she died after being transported to the hospital.
The trial could last up to six weeks, said Judge Albright. Usher said 450 potential jurors were summoned for selection. Not all will appear, but 90 attended Monday. Another 150 were scheduled to appear Tuesday.
The judge said the trial will have 12 jurors and three alternates.
