HEMPSTEAD, NY (January 31, 2026) — An 18-year-old from Baldwin was indicted by a Nassau County grand jury in the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old Monroe University women’s basketball player outside a college house party in Hempstead last November.
Jacob McMillan pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on the indictment, which was announced around January 30, 2026. He is scheduled to return to court on February 23, 2026. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison.
The shooting occurred shortly before 11 p.m. on November 22, 2025, near the intersection of Willow and Kennedy Avenues. Authorities said McMillan arrived at the party with friends and became involved in a verbal altercation with the host after refusing a requested pat-down or search before entering. He allegedly fired three shots into a group outside the residence.
One bullet fatally struck Amira McCleod, a sophomore at Monroe University and a resident of St. Albans, Queens, who died at the scene. Two other victims — 20-year-old students from Nassau Community College — were injured but released from the hospital after treatment.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly described the victim in a statement following the indictment.
“Amira McCleod was a promising athlete in her sophomore year at Monroe University, simply spending a Saturday night out with friends when she was cut down by a stray bullet.”
McMillan was arrested on December 2 or 3, 2025, following an investigation that included ShotSpotter activation and witness accounts.
The indictment charges McMillan with two counts of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, criminal use of a firearm, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
Monroe University athletics officials remembered McCleod as a “standout student-athlete” and a “vibrant, uplifting presence” on campus.
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This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.