Grand jury to review murder case involving son of community activist

Jalen Garces, the man accused of killing Ai Muhammad in June of last year, had his case brought before a grand jury following a preliminary hearing where he did not testify and no evidence was offered by his attorney. Ali Muhammad, the victim, was the son of community activist Bilal Muhammad, who was on the phone with him at the time of the shooting. The Commonwealth presented evidence from traffic cameras and the computer in the vehicle Garces was driving that night, as there were no witnesses to the shooting itself. Witnesses testified about what they saw in the aftermath of the shooting, with one witness providing a vehicle description that led to the identification of Garces’ car.

A detective used the vehicle description provided by a witness to track down the car in the FLOCK system, confirming its presence at the scene of the shooting. Additional testimony from Norfolk Police officers and a Virginia Beach Police officer with expertise in vehicle analysis revealed data from the car’s telematic control system, including the route it took on the night of the incident and information about phones connected to the car’s Bluetooth. The officer was able to reconstruct the exact route taken by the car that night using surveillance video and track logs.

Ultimately, the judge certified the case to be reviewed by a grand jury, which will determine if there is probable cause to move the case to Circuit Court. Garces did not testify during the preliminary hearing, and a new court date has not yet been set. The evidence presented in court, including surveillance footage, data from the vehicle’s computer system, and witness testimony, will be considered by the grand jury in making their decision. The shooting incident, which resulted in the death of Ai Muhammad, has been the subject of ongoing investigation led by law enforcement officers.

The case against Jalen Garces, accused of killing Ai Muhammad, was brought before a grand jury following a preliminary hearing where evidence was presented, including data from traffic cameras and the vehicle’s computer system. Witnesses testified about what they saw in the aftermath of the shooting, leading to the identification of Garces’ car at the scene. Further analysis of the vehicle’s telematic control system provided additional information about the route taken by the car on the night of the incident, connecting Garces to the crime scene.

Expert testimony from a Virginia Beach Police officer confirmed the data extracted from the vehicle’s telematic control system, including details about phone connections to the car’s Bluetooth and the duration the driver’s-side door remained open at the scene. The information gathered from surveillance video footage and track logs allowed for a detailed reconstruction of the car’s route from Virginia Beach to Ocean View on the night of the shooting. The judge’s decision to certify the case to the grand jury marks a significant step in the legal process, with the next phase being a review by the grand jury to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to Circuit Court. A new court date has yet to be scheduled as investigations into the shooting continue.