Mohammed Konate, the assailant in the non-fatal shooting of American musician Lil Tjay in Edgewater, will remain in jail despite his attorney's claim that there are no firearms linking him to the crime and that all the evidence and witnesses' accounts so far are either circumstantial or hold no water. Lil Tjay on his part was reportedly shot a total of 7 times and is lucky to be alive -- even though he has been decidedly silent and fans are worried about him everyday.
NorthJersey.com reported that Konate appeared before Bergen County Superior Court Judge James Sattely to determine if he will be released.
Michael Ashley, Konate's attorney, indicated that no Konate fingerprints were found on any of the guns found in the Dodge Durango in which the three men were seated during the alleged crime. In addition, the attorney stated that although DNA was discovered on one of the weapons, the prosecution cannot prove that it was Konate's DNA.
"Moreover, I would say that even a circumstantial scenario that there is some evidence that Mr. Konate may or might not have been existing at the scene does not total to evidence that the alleged robber or Konate himself ever discharged the weapon," Ashley said. The attorney also stated that there is no proof that the suspected robber did nearly anything far more than position his gun.
Assistant District Attorney Matt Fitzpatrick acknowledged that the existing evidence in the case is circumstantial, but the state's research reveals that Konate sustained five bullet wounds outside the place where the other two victims were shot. According to Fitzpatrick, Konate's cellphone information and surveillance video display him outside of a hotel close to where the crime occurred.
Ashley further argues that none of the witnesses whose testimony is required, actually witnessed the shooting or the alleged robber firing his gun. He cast doubt on the veracity of Boyd and Tjay's other acquaintance, Jeffrey Valdez, as well as their police accounts.
He stated that Boyd's statement was collected while he was in the hospital after being shot, that it was not taken under oath, and that his mental state during the interrogation was "questionable at best."
Ashley described Valdez's testimony as "fascinating" because it appeared to present "mixed viewpoints" of what occurred. Additionally, he added that Valdez allegedly told officials that he had been on prescription narcotics since his release from jail 30 days previously for having a pistol.
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During his interview by the prosecutor's office, Ashley said he heard Valdez conversing with an unknown third party.
Konate has seven opportunities to file an appeal against Sattely's ruling. Boyd and Valdez were also arrested for firearms violations following the incident.
Following a shooting incident outside of a retail center in the early morning hours of June 22, Mohammed Konate was first charged with attempted murder, attempted theft, and firearms expenses.
Konate is accused of approaching the rapper and his companions in their vehicle while brandishing a firearm and demanding their jewelry. Fitzpatrick stated that Konate was forced into a white BMW by an unidentified co-conspirator after he was shot.
Konate was detained hours later in a New York City hospital after sustaining five gunshot wounds. Lil Tjay and one of his close friends, Antoine Boyd, were wounded in the shooting.
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