Teen Pleads Guilty To Nassau House Party Shooting That Left Student Athlete, 19, Dead: Attorney

BALDWIN, NY — An 18-year-old from Baldwin faces 20 years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to criminal charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Amira McLeod Thursday, his attorney confirmed.

In a conversation with Patch Friday, Brian Carmody confirmed that his client, 18-year-old Jacob McMillan, had pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder, second-degree attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon and a criminal trespassing charge unrelated to McLeod’s death.

Subscribe

The second-degree murder charge carries a 20-to-life prison sentence, the attempted murder comes with a 20-year sentence and post-release supervision, and the gun charges come with 15 years of prison time with post-release supervision, Carmody said. Those terms will be served concurrently, Carmody said.

“It’s hard to put in words, because he’s 18. That’s pretty young, and I knew him before, there was another case I had represented him on,” Carmody said. “I was really surprised when I learned that he was charged with murder. He just didn’t seem like that kind of kid. He’s sorry for what he did, he takes full responsibility.”

At the time of McMillan’s arrest, police said the shooting had taken place when McMillan was denied entry into a house party at a rented property.

The district attorney’s office said McMillan tried to enter the house party through a window at 10:50 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2025 when the person throwing the party tried to pat him down before letting him in. McMillan refused to be patted down, however, stepped away, pulled a gun and fired two shots, prosecutors said.

The person who tried to pat McMillan down was struck in the arm and dove behind a car to take cover, while McMillan began running southbound on Kennedy Avenue, prosecutors said. Shortly after, McMillan turned around and fired one more shot, which went through someone’s shoulder before striking McLeod in the head, killing her instantly, prosecutors said. McLeod, 19, was attending the house party with her friends, prosecutors said.

The other two people hit by bullets that night were hospitalized, prosecutors said, and treated for their injuries. McMillan waited until 11:00, hiding in a backyard until a blue Ford Edge ride-share picked him up, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said an investigation into the incident included extensive video surveillance review, which showed McMillan in the same dark blue and black North Face jacket and light jeans that he was seen wearing at the party. Prosecutors said surveillance footage showed McMillan getting off an LIRR train at Baldwin station earlier that evening before boarding a Nassau Inter-County Express bus and getting off the bus a block from the house where the shooting took place. Further footage from a doorbell camera across the street from the house where the party was taking place also showed McMillan, prosecutors said.

“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 allegedly fired from this defendant’s gun after a dust-up with the party’s host,” District Attorney Anne Donnelly said the day McMillan was indicted. “Jacob McMillan allegedly fired two shots, injuring the host, and began to flee the scene. Tragically as he ran from the aftermath of his violent outburst, this defendant fired one last shot. A bullet that tore through another partygoer, then struck and killed Amira instantly. Jacob McMillan was being monitored by pre-trial services for a non-bail qualifying felony when he fired the shot that took Amira’s life and is now also being prosecuted for another alleged burglary that took place just days before the shooting. Our thoughts are with Amira’s family, friends, and school community as we prosecute this defendant for his senseless violence.”