Syracuse, New York

From the Syracuse Post-Standard of November 1, 2006

Grand jury frees shooter of neighbor

Prosecutor says grand jury ruled fatal shooting from window was justifiable.

A Syracuse man accused of fatally shooting a neighbor and injuring two other men outside his home as an ongoing dispute exploded in violence earlier this year has had all charges dropped after a grand jury refused to file charges.

Lemon Defense lawyer Bonnie Levy said Tuesday her client, Jasper Lemon Jr., was freed from jail Thursday after authorities dropped murder, attempted murder and weapons possession charges.

"My client was defending his home, his family and himself from a group of thugs who had threatened to kill his family," Levy said.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Robert Duncanson said that based on the evidence presented to the grand jury, the panel concluded that Lemon was "justified in his conduct."

Lemon, 22, of 237 Kenmore Ave., had been accused of opening fire with a .22-caliber rifle from an upstairs bedroom window in his home June 25, killing Albert Maeweather, 33, of 245 Kenmore Ave. Maeweather's 27-year-old brother, Timothy, and 25-year-old Amar Chavis were shot in the shoulder.

Although Levy declined to say what her client told the grand jury, she said Lemon has maintained from the beginning that he acted in self defense.

Meaweather's mother, Cecelia Spivey, said she is angry Lemon is free.

"My son is buried and the boy who shot him is back on the street like nothing happened," she said. "It's like saying it's OK to murder someone.

"Where's the justice?" she added.

Kathy Lemon, Jasper Lemon's mother, refused to comment, referring all questions to Levy.

(More detail)