Michael Jordan, 27, pleaded innocent Monday to the 2013 murder of Ahmir Lee.
A grand jury indicted Jordan with first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a weapon on Friday, February 20, following a year-long police investigation. He was arrested the next morning.
Accompanied by defense attorney Lefteris Travayiakis, Jordan spoke with a blanket draped over his face in court on Monday.
Lee was shot to death in the Copley Square area on Aug. 22, 2013. According to Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman, witnesses reported hearing shots around 11 p.m. on Boylston Street. They then saw Lee run from the Trinity Park area and collapse from a gunshot wound in the street in front of Burger King.
Others saw Jordan fire three shots towards Lee from the sidewalk in front of Trinity Church, according to the Statement of the Case filed by Hickman. Witnesses watched on as Jordan fled from the church area, walking to Clarendon Street where he got into a car and drove from the scene.
Jordan’s arraignment took place at 2 p.m. in front of Magistrate Paul D. Wilson, and was attended by many of Lee’s family and friends, including his mother, cousins, and girlfriend.
“Today is the day we finally get some closure,” Asia Strong, Lee’s longtime girlfriend and the mother of his two daughters, said before the arraignment. “I feel privileged and I finally have some peace.”
Strong said she has never seen or heard of Jordan and wants to know why the murder was committed.
“He was not a hateful person. He was like a big teddy bear,” Strong said. She described Lee, who was 22 at the time of his death, as loving, outgoing and goofy, and most of all, a great father.
Jordan is being held without bail and is expected back in court for an initial pretrial conference on Tuesday, April 14, at 2 p.m. before Judge Jeffrey A. Locke.
