Second suspect in Springfield shooting held without bail

A Vermont court Monday ordered the second suspect in last week’s Springfield shooting held without bail after learning of his 13 prior felony convictions out of New Jersey.

Second suspect in Springfield shooting held without bail By Chris Garofolo | Jun 17, 2014 Share on facebook Share on print Share on twitter Share on email More Sharing Services 2 WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, VT. — A Vermont court Monday ordered the second suspect in last week’s Springfield shooting held without bail after learning of his 13 prior felony convictions out of New Jersey. Jabbar Chandler, 33, of Charlestown, New Hampshire, pleaded not guilty to a pair of felonies and a simple assault charge stemming from his involvement in an altercation on Summer Street in Springfield last Wednesday where three individuals were hospitalized, reportedly in a quarrel over stolen heroin. Judge Michael C. Pratt ordered Chandler be held without bail given his extensive criminal history despite a push from his defense attorney that attempted to show his ties to the region. David Cahill, deputy state’s attorney for Windsor County, said Chandler’s constitutional right to bail does not apply given his habitual offender status. Prosecutors also mentioned the 13 prior felonies on Chandler’s rap sheet, the most recent of which was in April 2013. “None of those were in the state of Vermont, all of those were in the state of New Jersey,” Cahill said. Some of those felonies include burglary, receiving stolen property and for distributing a controlled, dangerous substance on school property. “Judge, also, in determining whether to exercise discretion to release the defendant, the court is not bound only by the traditional bail factors (risk of flight or nonappearance), the court can also consider risk of danger,” Cahill continued. “The state also notes that this was a violent offense and there is a risk of bodily harm or death to the witnesses and also to the victims in this case, so the court should consider that when exercising its discretion.” Pratt agreed, concluding the suspect is a risk given his lack of substantial ties to Vermont and his access to dangerous weapons. Appearing in a White River Junction courtroom in jeans and a shirt with the words “GOON 55” inscribed on it, Chandler sat quietly during his arraignment. He mouthed several words to two individuals sitting in court, who declined to provide any information or identification to reporters following the arraignment. Chandler, along with 26-year-old Leon Jiggetts of Newark, New Jersey, and a 16-year-old male, confronted 19-year-old Joseph Atkinson around 3:30 p.m. June 11 in apartment No. 4 at 47 Summer St. about rumors the teenager stole money from drug deals. Atkinson, like Jiggetts and Chandler, is originally from New Jersey. He was shot during the dispute and was airlifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; no information on his condition has been released. Vermont State Police reported Jiggetts fired a shot into Atkinson’s torso and put a firearm to his head during the home invasion. Two occupants of the apartment were also injured. Jiggetts last week pleaded not guilty to attempted second-degree murder. He is also being held without bail. Charges have not yet been brought forth against the juvenile or Atkinson connected to last week’s shooting. Chandler, who is also facing an unrelated aggravated assault charge from a week before the incident, turned himself into the Charlestown Police Department last Wednesday night and waived his extradition from New Hampshire. In Vermont, he faces a simple assault charge stemming from an altercation with one of the apartment occupants, as well as a felony count of unlawful trespassing. “By his own admission according to the affidavit of probable cause, the defendant knew that he was in that dwelling for a purpose other than a social visit. He knew that he was not welcome there,” Cahill said. Chandler has been arraigned on another felony charge, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, for allegedly pointing a firearm at his girlfriend’s head as she drove him and the other suspects away from the scene. Amy L. Scannell, the 30-year-old who had been dating Chandler for a few months, dropped the three men near the Summer Street residence and waited for them to return. She later told police as she drove away, Chandler pulled out a gun out and threatened her. “Scannell was concerned that Chandler would kill her,” said Vermont state trooper Brian Berry in his affidavit dated June 12. “On the way to Bellows Falls, Chandler threw the gun out the window and Jiggetts threw a cell phone out the window in the same area. Scannell would later show me where this spot was on Bridge Street in Springfield.” In addition to his multiple felonies out of New Jersey, Chandler was convicted in January of aiding in the possession of a narcotic drug in a Brattleboro court. He also is accused of assaulting another male in late May in downtown Springfield. His brother, Terrick Craft, agreed last December to a no-contest plea for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was remanded to serve between 8-to-15 years in connection to a July 2012 shooting in downtown Springfield. http://eagletimes.villagesoup.com/p/second-suspect-in-springfield-shooting-held-without-bail/1198946