WILLIAMSBURG — Omari-Ahmad T. Martin, the only adult among three suspects arrested in the March 29 shooting death of 15-year-old Warhill High School student Noah Cheeseman, is set to appear Tuesday at 10 a.m. for a preliminary hearing.
Martin, 18, of Williamsburg, faces charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony in Cheeseman’s death. At Tuesday’s hearing, a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial.
The shooting in the 100 block of Dehaven Court also led to the arrests of a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old, both charged with second-degree murder, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
Investigators believe the fatal confrontation between Cheeseman and the suspects stemmed from an earlier altercation, James City County police said in a news release at the time.
Officers responded to reports of gunfire at the Lafayette Square Apartments at 6:32 p.m. and found Cheeseman suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to Riverside Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Martin is being held at the Virginia Peninsula Regional Jail without bond, while both juveniles are being held at the Merrimac Juvenile Detention Center.
Cheeseman was known among peers for his academic and athletic involvement, according to his obituary. Outside of school, he was active in his faith and was baptized at World Outreach Worship Center in Newport News.
“He excelled academically, was known for his intelligence and carried a determination that inspired those around him,” the obituary stated. “He had a natural gift for making others laugh and lighting up any room he walked into.”
Following the shooting, Police Chief Mark Jamison called the death a “tragic and senseless act of violence.”
“Incidents like this are often the result of reckless and dangerous choices fueled by personal conflicts and a profound disrespect for human life,” Jamison said in a statement.
