Three men from the Bronx have been slapped with Attempted Murder charges following a gunfight that erupted on a bustling shopping strip. Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced the indictment of Biyagi Jawara, 28, his brother Ebarama Jawara, 24, and Mohammed Kamar, 27, after an altercation turned violent on East Tremont Avenue in the Mt. Hope neighborhood. Clark said, “The defendants turned an argument into a gunfight, firing across Tremont Avenue, endangering lives. These defendants will be held accountable for their reckless behavior,” according to a report by the Bronx District Attorney's Office. The trio is now facing a litany of charges, including Attempted Assault in the first-degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon.
On January 8, the Jawara brothers and Kamar were involved in a dispute inside a smoke shop, which eventually spilled onto the street. Following heated words, shots were exchanged across the thoroughfare, with Ebarama Jawara and Kamar allegedly returning fire after a shot came from a group assembled on the opposite side of the street. Firing at least once, Ebarama Jawara and Kamar took turns squeezing the trigger, narrowly missing shoppers in the chaos. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Arning, who is leading the prosecution under the supervision of an experienced team, is pushing to hold these men accountable for the peril they inflicted, according to the same document.
Bail for Biyagi Jawara was set at $5,000 cash or $15,000 bond, while his younger brother's bail was pegged at $15,000 cash or $50,000 bond. Kamar had his bail set at $15,000 cash or $45,000 bond. Each arraignment took place on separate dates, with Biyagi Jawara's most recent arraignment happening before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. The case has drawn considerable assistance from various legal support staff and NYPD Detective Michael Pando of the 46th Precinct Detective Squad, whose investigative work was pivotal in the indictment.
As the case progresses, the defendants are entitled to a fair trial during which their guilt or innocence will be determined. The District Attorney’s Office expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who helped build the case, including Trial Preparation Assistant George Diaz and Intelligence Analyst Alexandra Ragusa of the Crime Strategies Bureau, who were acknowledged for their thorough work. District Attorney Clark also thanked the investigative team. As the case is expected to develop in the coming months, the office emphasized that the charges remain allegations, and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
