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Raw Video: Scene of deadly shooting 10/30/08 |
(WSYR-TV)
Syracuse, New York (WSYR-TV) – Two Syracuse teenagers are in jail Friday, facing murder charges. Montel Camber — the youngest — turned 13 just 12 days ago, and the other is 16-year-old Vatell Baptista. Police say the pair went to a home on West Newell Street Wednesday night, and shortly after they left, 49-year-old Nathaniel Jamison was found dead in the driveway. Baptista was a student at Corcoran High School up until this fall. Camber was a student at Danforth. On Wednesday night, Jamison was at his home with a friend, fixing a broken window. His friend was in the back of the house, and Jamison went inside. At around 11:00 that night, two teens showed up. “The witness hears confrontational arguments between the victim and suspect at the home,” says Syracuse Police Chief Gary Miguel. Soon after that confrontation, a gunshot was heard, and Jamison’s friend saw two teens running from the house and Jamison slumped over on the driveway. Police say Baptista shot and killed Jamison. “When you’re dealing with kids this young, there’s a reality factor that this isn’t a video game; it isn’t a TV show you’re watching — these are people’s lives and you’ve just taken a person’s life,” Miguel says. Miguel says police caught a break on Thursday, when officers were called to another home nearby for a burglary alarm. Baptista was taken in for questioning on that burglary, and after talking to him they arrested Camber. “I feel very good we were able to make arrests so soon, because my fear, being with kids these young, is would this have been the end of it?,” Miguel says. “Fortunately, the Chief and I rarely talk to you about a teen this young committing a crime like this,” says Onondaga County DA Bill Fitzpatrick. Police say Jamison would sell knock off goods, like clothing and other items, in a parking lot on the corner of Salina and Castles streets. Police believe these teens knew Jamison from selling in that parking lot. Police say that although there was a broken window at the home, they have no indication if those teens had been to the home before that night. Baptista and Camber were both arraigned Friday in city court on second degree murder charges. They are being held without bail. Even though Camber is facing a second degree murder charge, he has been charged as a juvenile. This means if he is convicted, he faces a maximum of nine years to life instead of 25 years to life. |
