Story by Ethan
On January 30th, 2026, the arrest of Jacob McMillan, age 18, was announced by Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly. Jacob McMillan was charged with first-degree Criminal Use of a Firearm as a B violent felony, two counts of second-degree Murder as an A-I felony, second-degree Attempted Robbery as a B violent felony, and two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon as a C violent felony. The arrest and charges against Jacob McMillan were a result of an investigation handled by Nassau County Police Department’s Bureau of Special Operations.
According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 10:55 p.m. on November 22nd, 2025, Jacob McMillan attempted to enter a house party taking place at a home on Willow Avenue in Hempstead, New York. As the defendant approached the property to go to the party he was stopped by one of the individuals hosting the party in an attempt to be pat down before gaining entry. Jacob McMillan refused to be searched and pushed away from the person before allegedly pulling out a gun and firing two shots at the individual attempting to search him. The victim was struck once in the arm while diving behind a nearby car to shield himself from the gunfire as the defendant fled from the scene heading southbound. While retreating Jacob McMillan fired another shot which went through the shoulder of another party-goer before striking 19-year-old Amira McCleod in the head killing her instantly. While she was pronounced as dead at the scene the other two gunshot victims were taken to local hospitals. Jacob McMillan allegedly hid in a backyard approximately one block south of the party’s location before he was picked at 11:00 p.m. by a blue Ford Edge via a ridesharing service. The defendant was then dropped off to an address on Coolidge Avenue in Baldwin, New York. Investigation into the incident included reviewing surveillance footage of the area that allegedly depicted Jacob McMillan in the same black “North Face” jacket, light colored jeans, and black sneakers that he was wearing at the party. He was then seen getting off of a Long Island Railroad train at the Baldwin train station prior to the party before boarding a Nassau Inter-County Express bus. The defendant then stepped off of the same bus at the intersection of Baldwin Road and Homan Boulevard approximately a block away from the party on Willow Avenue. A home across the street with a doorbell camera had captured video of Jacob McMillan approaching the party’s location. The defendant was located and arrested in Baldwin, New York on December 2nd, 2025, by the Nassau County Police Department’s Bureau of Special Operations.
The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Jacob McMillan are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
