MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – A prominent Macomb County businessman and the man accused of shooting him in an ambush outside his mansion both appeared at the suspect’s arraignment on Wednesday.
Jasan Delanta Martin, 32, was arraigned on the charges of assault with intent to murder (a life or any term of years felony), possession of a weapon by a prohibited person (a five-year felony), carrying a weapon with an unlawful intent (a five-year felony) and three counts of felony firearm (each a two-year felony, consecutive to the main charge), in connection with shooting Eddie Jawad.
He’s accused of climbing a wall to get into Jawad’s yard at his Macomb Township home and hiding between cars before firing multiple shots at the man’s SUV as he exited his garage.
Jawad was grazed in his right leg and struck in his left leg, and also suffered injuries from broken glass. He was released from the hospital later that same day.
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Both Martin and Jawad appeared for the hearing virtually. You can watch the full hearing in the video at the top of this article.
Martin stood mute to the charges, and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
When the judge brought up bond, the defense said discussing bond was “irrelevant” because there is a Department of Corrections hold on Martin for violating his parole.
At the time of his arrest, he was on parole out of Ohio for aggravated robbery, kidnapping and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The defense said there was “no need for a long argument” about bond, saying this is a “high publicity case” and the discussion “would only serve to taint the jury pool.”
Despite the defense’s objection, the judge said the prosecution had a right to make comments about bond, but asked her to keep it brief.
The prosecutor said the shooting was a “brazen attack in broad daylight,” with multiple shots fired in a residential neighborhood.
She noted concerns about the risk to the public and the victim, and said the likelihood of conviction is high, given that the shooting was caught on camera. The prosecution also said this was a violent felony that happened while Martin was out on parole.
For all these reasons, the prosecution asked for no bond.
The judge set a $1 million cash/surety bond. If Martin posts the bond and is released, he must be placed on a GPS tether and cannot have any contact with Jawad.
However, due to the parole hold, the judge said Martin’s release is “very unlikely.”
Martin’s probable cause conference is scheduled for Nov. 3, and his preliminary examination is scheduled for Nov. 10.
A probable cause conference is a procedural hearing where the prosecution and defense can discuss the case and set future dates.
At the preliminary examination, the judge will determine if there is enough evidence to send the case to a higher court, where the defendant could stand trial.
“While the investigation into this matter is still ongoing, I would like to commend law enforcement on the team effort used to apprehend Jasan Martin and bring him to justice,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido. “The allegations against Martin are both shocking and appalling. The idea that someone would attempt to kill a man in his own driveway, in broad daylight, is beyond comprehension. As Macomb County Prosecutor, I take my duties with the highest seriousness, and my office will prosecute this case with the full force and gravity it deserves.”
On Wednesday morning, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham and Lucido held a news conference to give the latest details on the case. You can watch that update in the video below: