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Nigel Staten-Chambers, a teen formerly arraigned on two cases, faced both a preliminary arraignment on new charges and a preliminary hearing on an existing case before District Judge Aaron Biichle.
The 17-year-old's hearing today focused on a Nov. 21 incident in which he allegedly fired five shots at a pizza delivery man driving away from him on Market Street, according to City Police Agent Brittany Alexander.
The arraignment on the new case charges Staten-Chambers with allegedly firing five shots on Nov. 23 at a juvenile on Penn Street, but missing and hitting the victim's friend, according to State Trooper Brian Siebert.
Biichle held all charges through during the hearing for the Nov. 23 alleged attempted homicide on Market Street; although Biichle requested the public to leave the courtroom at the behest of the Commonwealth while juvenile witnesses were interviewed, he later stated he found there was a case to be made for all charges and that it would move forward to the court of common pleas.
Meanwhile, Staten-Chambers was arraigned for the new charges brought before him just prior to the preliminary hearing.
On Nov. 23, at around 6 p.m., Staten-Chambers allegedly instructed two minors to knock on the door of a home on Penn Street, and three other juveniles, referenced in the affidavit as Victims No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3, walked onto the porch to speak with them.
Staten-Chambers allegedly yelled "get back" and fired five shots intended for Victim No. 1. As the minors scrambled to return inside, one of the bullets hit Victim No. 3 in the left growth plate, according to Siebert.
Victim No. 2's mother called an ambulance, and Victim No. 3 was transported to UPMC Williamsport to be treated for the injuries. He or she was later transported to Geisinger Medical Center because the bullet allegedly penetrated his or her pelvic bone and needed to be surgically removed.
The group's alleged plan was for Juveniles No. 2 and 3 to knock on the door of a home on Penn Street, and Juvenile No. 1, who was hiding with Staten-Chambers, would fight Victim No. 1 one-on-one, according to Juvenile No. 5, who was interviewed by Siebert.
Juveniles No. 4 and 5 allegedly watched the scene unfold. The entire group allegedly ran away from the scene after Staten-Chambers allegedly shot at the residence.
Staten-Chambers allegedly told the rest of the juveniles listed "don't say anything to anybody or y'all will get arrested and charged for attempted murder."
On Nov. 29, an underage witness said he or she was at a friend's house eavesdropping on Staten-Chambers and a minor identified as "Juvenile No. 7."
"They were hearing on the street that Staten-Chambers has been committing all these crimes recently in Williamsport," Seibert reported the witness told him.
Staten-Chambers allegedly admitted to Juvenile No. 7 he was the one committing the crimes, and "specifically said he shot the kid on Penn Street" according to the witness.
"Staten-Chambers told Juvenile No. 7 that he did not mean to as he was trying to hit Victim No. 1," Seibert alleged in the affidavit. "Staten-Chambers told Juvenile No. 7 not to be mad at him for it."
During the course of the investigation into the alleged attempted homicide on Market Street, Alexander recovered a black and silver Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol from 966 Market St., the residence Staten-Chambers was last seen leaving before he was taken into custody by police.
Police recovered 9mm bullet casings from the scenes of the Nov. 21 alleged attempted homicide incident on Market Street and the Nov. 23 alleged attempted homicide incident on Penn Street.
Staten-Chambers' girlfriend, Ahbree Guthrie, allegedly told police that Staten-Chambers shared the gun with his uncle, Jesse Giddings, according to Laura Kitko, a city police agent. Giddings, 33, of 332 Locust St. was arraigned on charges last month for allegedly robbing several stores on Nov. 12, Nov. 16 and Nov. 25 using a handgun.
Giddings allegedly used a black and silver handgun in the Nov. 12 robbery of Boost Mobile, according to Kitko.
Staten-Chambers was allegedly provided the gun by a witness who testified during Staten-Chambers' preliminary hearing for the alleged attempted homicide on Market Street, according to Biichle. This witness allegedly stole the pistol, which belonged to a family friend, from the Lewisburg residence of the witness' grandmother. When Alexander recovered the gun, she reported the gun was listed as stolen by state police in Milton.
Biichle arraigned Staten-Chambers for the Penn Street incident on charges of criminal homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, firing a gun into an occupied structure, criminal mischief, possessing a firearm, possessing a firearm without a license and possessing a firearm while prohibited.
Staten-Chambers' attorney, Don Martino, indicated he preferred Staten-Chambers be detained for time credit reasons. Biichle denied bail to Staten-Chambers, and said Staten-Chambers is a danger to the community. Staten-Chambers is being held in the Lycoming County Prison.
Staten-Chambers was previously charged in an incident in which he allegedly threatened two underage girls with a gun on Baldwin Street on Nov. 29. Staten-Chambers allegedly used a black and silver pistol during the Baldwin Street incident as well.
Staten-Chambers will next appear before Biichle for a preliminary hearing on the Penn Street incident Jan. 15. He has a formal arraignment scheduled for the before Lycoming County Judge Nancy Butts Jan. 28.