Suspect in drive-by shooting makes first court appearance

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – An 18-year-old man faces charges in connection with the drive-by shooting that killed a seven-year-old girl at a birthday party in late August.

Jaheim Campbell was charged on Friday with murder in the death of Chrisyah Stephens and the attempted murder of Sebastion Hines. Court documents show Hines was at the same birthday party where Stephens was shot and was Cambell’s original target.

Jaheim Campbell was arrested Thursday on unrelated charges, but after interviewing multiple witnesses and Campbell, investigators were able to piece together information to bring charges to the suspect on the death of Stephens.

During his interviews with investigators, Campbell told multiple stories before admitting to using two Facebook accounts to send messages to one of the witnesses saying “I told everyone this is not a joke and I’m not satisfied yet.” He also told investigators that he was in the passenger seat of a car traveling on High Street and Donald Street with two other people at the time of the shooting, when the rear passenger opened fire. But, according to court documents multiple witnesses told investigators, it was the person in the passenger seat that had opened fire. Campbell tried to recant his story when investigators confronted him with this information.

Campbell is currently being held in the St. Joseph County Jail without bond.

A preliminary plea of not guilty was entered on behalf of Campbell on Monday. He is set to appear in court next on November 5 for an initial hearing.