Prosecutor: Lynn teen shot, killed while committing armed robbery

LYNN – A city teen was held without bail on a felony murder charge after officials said the teen’s best friend was fatally shot by a man the two teens tried to rob at gunpoint.
Jahleel Sanders Williams, 17, was arraignedThursday in Lynn District Court on charges of attempt to commit a crime, armed robbery; and felony murder.
A plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.
Williams was charged in connection with the death of Amoy Blake, 18,in the first-floor hallway at 192 Washington St. at12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Essex Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall stressed that Williams did not pull the trigger in the fatal shooting.
Rather, she said Williams and Blake were trying to rob a resident of the building. MacDougall said the resident reported feeling a gun against his head and was able to grab his own gun, which he had a legal license to carry. The alleged victim of the attempted robbery shot and hit Blake, who was allegedly holding the gun to the man’s head, according to MacDougall. Williams fled the scene.
MacDougall and defense lawyer Edward Hayden agreed that Williams would be held without bail.
Friends of both teens said the two were best friends and were not part of any gang. The two families greeted and spoke with each other after the arraignment.
A felony murder charge can be filed when a person is killed in the act of committing a felony, according to a spokesperson from Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office.
Read full coverage of the arraignment in Friday’s edition of The Daily Item and on itemlive.com