Jahda Marcus Martin

The 2K11 Jahda Martin Classic

2011-06-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

The 2nd Annual Jahda Martin Classic Was Once Again A Huge Success...We Had Beautiful Weather & A Great Day Of Basketball. This Year's Tournament Featured 12 Teams From All Over The Region, With Players From Pittsfield, Albany, Sprinfield & Boston Just To Name A Few. The Town Of Lee, MA Entered 4 Teams Alone Including Their Boy's Varsity Basketball Team.

This Year's Tournament Was Single Elimination With 30 Minute Games Split Into 15 Minute Halves. Unfortunately, Due To A Lack Of Referees The Games Were Very Physical & Low Scoring But There Were Still Many Memorable Moments. The Lee High Wildcats Held Their Own In The First Half Of Their Game, This Tournament Was A Great Learning Experience For Those Young Guys. Springfield College Standout, Jordan Rote Carried The Dark Green Team For 2 Games Before Falling To PHS & Saint Rose Alum, Brad Shove's Light Blue Team Which Also Featured Other College Players As Well As Some From Overseas. Last Year's Runner-Ups Led By 2 Of Berkshire Farm's Most Notable Players, Josh Baker & Anthony Lee Had The 1st Half Lead Over Former University Of Cincinnati Point Guard Jamual Warren & His Team From Springfield But A Collapse On Defense In The 2nd Half Resulted In The "Springfield Squad" Making It To The Finals. "We Do It 4 U", Last Year's Champions Had Tough Games All Day But Were Able To Make It Back To The Finals On Trevelle Spratling's Buzzer Beater Against The Light Blue Team, Giving Them A One Point Victory.

The Championship Game Was Between Pittsfield's "We Do It 4 U" & The "Springfield Squad"...This Game Featured Some Of The Biggest Names In Western Massachusetts Basketball. "We Do It 4 U" ( Sedale Jones, Glenn Davis, Jamal Mungin, Jerome Edgerton, Taeshon Johnson, Jeff Quetti, Trevelle Spratling & Paul Becklens) Defeated "The Springfield Squad" ( Jamual Warren & Mike Vaz) In OverTime For Their 2nd Title In As Many Years Making Them Back-To-Back Champions. The Game Was Extremely Physical & Controversial But In The End Everyone Went Home Knowing They Were Out Their For One Goal, To "Play 4 Peace".

Thank You To Everyone That Made This Event So Successful...The Referees, Volunteers, Sponsors & Most Of All The Players...Special Thanks To DJ Yung, Kayt Collins Photography, Jones Trophies, Cranwell Resort, VistaPrint, Gary O'Brien Property Services & The City Of Pittsfield.

We Hope Everyone Enjoyed Themselves As Much As We Did & We Can't Wait To Do It All Again Next Year...WILL WE SEE A 3-PEAT???

Five Suspects To Stand Trial In Jahda Martin Killing- Berkshire Eagle

2011-06-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

Five defendants allegedly involved in last year’s murder of 26-year-old Jahda Martin of Pittsfield will be heading to trial in late 2011 or early 2012, according to proceedings in Berkshire Superior Court held on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office also received DNA reports that allegedly prove the victim’s blood was found in one of two vehicles police processed for evidence in the case. On Wednesday, Assistant District Attorney Gregory Barry said the DA’s office had just received the DNA reports and hadn’t yet gone through them to determine which vehicle Martin’s blood was found in.

Three defendants are being tried together under joint venture, meaning they can be considered equally culpable for Martin’s death. John C. "Jay" Spratling, 27, of Pittsfield, Allen McGraw, 31, of Kingston, N.Y., and Terrance J. Brown, 27, of Springfield, are all charged with murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and intimidation of a witness.

A fourth man, Trevor L. "Jamaican Jay" Pryce, 29, of North Adams, is facing the same charges as the others, but is being tried separately.

Martin was stabbed to death March 6, 2010, in the Burger King parking lot across from the former Club Groove on Wendell Avenue Extension in Pittsfield. He was leaving the club when he was attacked by several men who then fled in cars, according to the police report.

The victim later died from his injuries at Berkshire Medical Center.

Witnesses allegedly told police that Brown had a knife and appeared to be stabbing the victim. He and the other defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A fifth person, Casey Ivery, 32, of Pittsfield, was also in court Wednesday. Ivery is charged as an accessory to the crime.

Authorities alleged she cleaned one of the getaway vehicles, a rented red Chevrolet Traverse, after the stabbing. Another vehicle, a brown Chevrolet Malibu, was also processed for evidence by police.

At least one attorney in the case, Harry Miles, who is representing Spratling, may file a motion to set aside his client’s indictment based on evidence issues. Miles did not immediately return a call for comment and it was unclear what the issues were.

All five defendants will have a pretrial conference Oct. 11, followed by their trials, which are tentatively set for either the November 2011 or January 2012 criminal court terms.

A sixth person, Crystal Gonzalez, 22, of Springfield, was arrested as an accessory to the murder last March, but was not indicted in the case.

No alleged motive has been given in the murder of Martin, a gifted athlete who had seemingly overcome a difficult childhood.

Martin grew up in the Bronx, N.Y., and was in foster care for much of his youth. In 2000, he left Berkshire Farm, a child welfare agency with a residential program, in Canaan, N.Y., to attend Lee High School and was being fostered by Douglas and Linda Ackerman during that time.

Martin was a standout basketball player at Lee High School and also played in college before returning to the Berkshires without graduating. He eventually drifted into the local drug trade, according to police and prosecutors.

The 2nd Annual Jahda Martin Classic

2011-05-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

As You All Know This Year's Tournament Is Less Than A Month Away...We Are Urging Teams To Register ASAP To Insure Your Team Will Have Jerseys. Until We Are Certain Of How Many Teams There Will Be The 2k11 Jahda Martin Classic Could Play Out In Multiple Ways...If There Are 8 Teams, It Will Be A Double Elimination Style Tournament...We Hope To Get 16 Teams, If That It The Case It Will Be Single Elimination...Any Amount Of Teams In Between That, We Will Plan Accordingly. The Rules Will Remain The Same As Last Year & They Are As Follows:

1) $20 Per Player (Don't Pay, Don't Play)
2) No More Than 8 Players Per Team
3) Games Will Be Full Court, 5-on-5
4) Games Will Be 40mins. (Two 20min Halves)
5) Play 4 Peace (Violence Will Not Be Tolerated)

The Event Will Also Feature Live Music By DJ Yung, Food & Drinks And Possibly A Slam-Dunk Contest, If Enough People Are Interested. We Are Also Proud To Announce That Coca-Cola Will Be Sponsoring The Jerseys For This Year's Tournament & We Would Like To Say Thank You Everyone Else That Has Donated As Well.

-All Proceeds Will Be Deposited Back Into The Jahda Martin Fund For Future Events-

The 2K11 Jahda Martin Classic Promo Flyer

2011-04-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

-Hitting The Streets This Week-

IT'S COMING...

2011-04-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

Headstone Is Now In Place

2010-07-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

Thank You To Everyone Who Made It Possible For Jahda To Be Layed To Rest With Such A Beautiful Headstone...He Would Be So Proud & Honored To See How Much We Loved Him & Now We Will All Have A Place To Visit Anytime We Need To See His Smile Or Feel His Spirit...May He Rest In Paradise For All Of Eternity...We Love You Jahda Marcus Martin.

Congratulations & Thank You

2010-06-26T08:09:00.000-07:00

First & Foremost The Jahda Martin Foundation Would Like To Thank Everyone Who Donated Their Time & Money To Help Make The Inaugural Jahda Martin Classic A Huge Success...A Special Thanks To Wal-Mart & Denise Sumy For The Water Donations, Thank You To HoodStar Fettachini For The Ron G Show Tickets & To Everyone Else Who Helped In Any Way, We Are Forever Grateful.

Now We Would Like To Congratulate The Winners Of The 1st Annual Jahda Martin Classic, Team "We Do It 4 U"...Your Team Exemplified Everything A True Champion Should & I'm Sure You Made Jahda Very Proud...

Above Are Just A Few Pictures From The Event, If You Would Like To See More Please Visit My Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/postabfamous83)
I'm Also In The Process Of Starting A Jahda Martin Classic Fan Page For Up-To-Date Information On Next Year's Tournament...

Once Again Thank You So Much, We Hope Everyone Enjoyed Themselves & We Can't Wait To Do It Bigger In 2k11...

The Inaugural Jahda Martin Classic

2010-05-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

The Date Has Been Set...THE JAHDA MARTIN CLASSIC Will Take Place On Saturday June, 19th At Dorothy Amos Park On West St. In Pittsfield, MA. The Event Will Start At 10am With Check-In & A ShootAround, With Games Starting Around 11am...The Expected Running Time Will Be Until About 6pm Depending On The Number Of Teams Registered.

This Will Be A Day To Remember & To Look Forward To For Years To Come...You Won't Want To Miss Out...It's Gonna Be The Biggest & Best Basketball Tournament This City Has Ever Seen & It's All In Memory Of A Great Man...Jahda Was A Rising Star In The Game Of Basketball, A Natural-Born Talent Who's Life Was Taken Far Too Soon.

So Please Come Join Us For A Day Of Celebrating Peace, Fun & Great Basketball...The Event Will Feature Music From Yours Truly, PostaBFamous & We Will Also Be Selling Jahda Martin Memorabilia With All Proceeds Going To THE JAHDA MARTIN FUND.

Thank You So Much For Everyone's Support, We Truly Appreciate It & Once Again Jahda Will Be Looking Down On Us All With His Big Smile...He Would Be So Touched To Know & See How Much Everyone Cared About Him...His Name Will Forever Live On In Our Hearts & On The Court...R.I.P. Jahda Marcus Martin.

Man Arraigned In Martin's Death- Berkshire Eagle

2010-05-07T16:08:00.000-07:00

A man allegedly seen with a knife in his hand during the deadly Pittsfield assault on Jahda Martin is under grand jury indictment for murder and other charges.

Terrance W. Brown, 26, of Springfield, was wearing handcuffs and a gray prison uniform as officers led him into Berkshire Superior Court for arraignment Thursday afternoon. Brown was dressed in prison attire because he recently began serving a three-year prison sentence for a Hampden County crime.

Pittsfield attorney William A. Rota, who is representing Brown in his Berkshire County murder case, said he does not know much about the underlying charges in Brown's other case. "I don't know exactly what it's for," he said of the prison sentence handed down last week by a Hampden Superior Court judge.

Brown is among several defendants charged in connection with the March 6 assault on Martin, who was beaten and stabbed early that morning and died later at Berkshire Medical Center, according to police and prosecutors. If convicted of murder, Brown could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Police have yet to formally confirm a motive for the fatal assault. But Martin -- a former standout basketball player at Lee High School -- was a convicted criminal with pending felony drug charges at the time of his death.

According to police reports, various witnesses characterized the March 6 assault outside of Club Groove, a Wendell Avenue Extension nightclub,

as a gang-related "hit" linked to Martin's March 2 arraignment on drug charges in Central Berkshire District Court. In that case, Judge Rita S. Koenigs released Martin on personal recognizance, but she noted in court papers that prosecutors did not request bail for Martin.

May have worked with police

Law enforcement officials have declined to reveal whether Martin was sharing information with investigators, but a Pittsfield police report alludes to that possibility. Officer Miles J. Barber said that Saif Safick, the owner of Club Groove, witnessed several men suddenly exit a vehicle and attack Martin.

"Mr. Safick then informed me that he had learned through his sources that there may have been a ‘hit' on Martin due to a recent court case where he was released from court [on personal recognizance] with drug charges pending," Barber wrote in a March 8 report about the incident.

Bloods may be involved

One witness told police that a man named "Terrance," who was involved in the assault, belongs to the Bloods street gang, while another witness told police that the stabbing was "a ‘Blood' thing," Barber said in his report.

Court papers indicate that Martin was involved in an altercation inside Club Groove prior to the assault, and was later beaten and stabbed in the parking lot across from the Wendell Avenue Extension club.

During Thursday's Superior Court arraignment, Brown pleaded not guilty to single counts of murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and witness intimidation. Judge John A. Agostini ordered Brown to be held without the right to bail, even though Brown just began serving a prison sentence and is unlikely to be released prior to disposition of his Berkshire County murder case.

Others arraigned last week

Several other defendants were arraigned last week in Superior Court in connection with Martin's death. An anti-violence peace rally in Martin's honor was held last week in Pittsfield.

Martin's death is being investigated by members of the Pittsfield Police Department, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the office of Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless, state police from the Crime Scene Services Section and members of the Berkshire County Drug Task Force.

THE JAHDA MARTIN CLASSIC

2010-05-05T18:42:00.000-07:00

The 1st Annual Jahda Martin Classic Is Tentatively Scheduled For Saturday June, 19th @ Dorothy Amos Park On West St. In Pittsfield. The Tournament Will Start At 11am And Run Til About 6pm...There May Also Be Games On Sunday As Well, Depending On The Number Of Teams.

If You Would Like To Participate We Are Taking Registrations Now...You May Also Register @ 10am On The Day Of The Tourney. There Is A $20 Entry Fee Per Player, With Teams Of No More Than 8 Players.

TO REGISTER- Call Or Text 978-413-2663
Or
REGISTER ON GAME DAY @ 10am

***MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON***

Marchers Unite For City Harmony- Berkshire Eagle

2010-05-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

Forget the signs. Forget the police escort. Forget the one hundred feet pounding the pavement of North Street. Because for onlookers, what preceded the dozens marching in Friday's "I'm 4 Peace" rally was the sound of their voice.

"I'm for peace! We're for peace! Please seek peace!" they chanted.

Inspired by a spate of violence that has hit the county -- culminating in the fatal stabbing of 26-year-old Jahda Martin in March, and the shooting of a 17-year-old girl just two weeks later -- residents from across the Berkshires came together to denounce drug- and youth-related crime and promote peace in the region.

"We have to start demonstrating the values and changes we want in our community," said Shirley Edgerton of Pittsfield. "This is something that we need to continue -- this can't be a once-a-year thing. I'd hate for us to become a city of statistics."

Organized by Christopher "BIGZ!" Barton of North Adams, demonstrators were out at the Berkshire Medical Center well ahead of the 6 p.m. meeting time, handing out T-shirts printed "I'm 4 Peace."

"Nobody should be fearing to play in their yard," Barton said. "I hear that all the time in the Berkshires... Nobody should fear that -- that just lit a fire underneath me."

While originally the marchers had concerns about turnout, as the crowd moved down North Street, their numbers began to grow. At Charles Street, there were 30. By Madison Avenue, the

number had grown to 40. And by the time they hit the Wendell Avenue Extension -- the very spot where Martin was killed -- the crowd had broken 50.

And as the marchers continued to chant through downtown, onlookers stopped and watched. Cars honked, heads turned, and even people who didn't know of the demonstration joined the crowd.

"It's kind of depressing -- you read the newspaper every day, and it's not uncommon to read about shootings and stabbings and assaults," said Jessie Miller of Pittsfield, who felt compelled to join the march when they passed her by on North Street. "I never see something like this -- I had no idea something like this would happen."

"I just thought it was a really good idea to just give a voice for the victims of the darker side of humanity," Miller added. "No matter what, life is a valuable thing... nobody deserves to die."

For those who knew Martin, the event was particularly emotional. "Who didn't know Jahda? He was a star," said Amanda Borsotti of Lee, a former classmate of Martin's. "It was so sad to see someone come from nothing to something, and then just get dragged down."

Stanley Morrison of Pittsfield, whose girlfriend was close with Martin, agreed. "She could have sworn he was going to make it," he said. "People think of death as an abstraction, but when somebody you know is gone, all we have is our memories."

As the rally converged at Park Square, Martin introduced North Adams Mayor Richard J. Alcombright, who gave an address about the perils of youth- and drug-based violence in the county.

"We talk about random acts of violence -- and random acts of kindness. What's more scary, is that we're starting to see purposeful acts of violence," Alcombright said. "What we need to do is what we're doing here -- to start doing purposeful acts of kindness."

"People do not need to be stabbed to settle differences -- we do not have to be fearful to leave our homes," he continued. "Let us be the voice in the Berkshires that says, ‘I'm for peace.' "

And for Barton, he said he expected to hold more peace rallies every year, and to bring more and more people with each march. "This rally came in the spirit of Jahda, but it was so much more," Barton said. "It just goes to show you: You don't need a lot of money -- you just need a dream, and people who stand behind you."

Three Indicted For Murder, Other Charges In Case- Berkshire Eagle

2010-05-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

Several defendants in the Jahda Martin homicide case are under indictment and now face murder and other charges in Berkshire Superior Court.

Martin, 26, was beaten and stabbed to death outside of a Pittsfield nightclub on March 6, according to police, who have yet to publicly identify a motive for the killing.

Martin's death -- Berkshire County's only homicide this year -- has spawned a grassroots anti-violence movement that culminated in Friday evening's peace rally in Pittsfield. Several hours before that rally took place, however, three defendants were arraigned on Friday morning in Berkshire Superior Court.

John C. "Jay" Spratling, 26, of Pittsfield, Allen McGraw, 29, of Kingston, N.Y., and Trevor L. "Jamaican Jay" Pryce Jr., 28, of North Adams, denied single counts of murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and witness intimidation. Judge Daniel A. Ford ordered them to be held without bail at the Berkshire County Jail & House of Correction.

Another defendant, Terrance Brown, has been indicted on the same charges, but he has yet to be arraigned in Superior Court. Police said witnesses claim Brown was holding a knife when Martin was killed.

Martin was accosted by several individuals after leaving Club Groove, a Wendell Avenue Extension nightclub linked to several violent incidents since debuting in July 2009. Martin was killed in the parking lot across from the club.

Two other defendants

-- Casey Ivery, 30, of Pittsfield, and Crystal Gonzalez, 21, of Springfield -- are charged with being accessories to the crime, but so far only Ivery has been indicted in connection with Martin's death.

Ivery was arraigned Thursday in Superior Court, where she denied single counts of accessory to murder and accessory to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, both after the fact. Judge Ford remanded her to the county jail in lieu of $10,000 cash, $100,000 bond.

Meanwhile, Gonzalez is due back in District Court for a May 19 hearing.

Martin, a once-promising athlete with a troubled past, seemed to have everything going for him despite his difficult upbringing in the Bronx, N.Y. Prior to settling in the Berkshires, he was a ward of New York state, where he bounced from one foster-care setting to another.

In 2000, he came to live with a Lee foster family, who nurtured him and provided a stable home life. Martin was a star basketball player at Lee High School and continued to play ball in college. But Martin left college before finishing and returned to the Berkshires, where he got involved in the local drug trade, according to police and prosecutors.

He was convicted on felony drug charges in December 2007 and picked up fresh drug charges just days before his death. He denied all charges at a March 2 arraignment in Central Berkshire District Court, where a judge released Martin on personal recognizance after prosecutors declined to request bail for the convicted felon.

"I'm 4 Peace" Rally

2010-04-28T07:17:00.000-07:00

Please Join Us In A March For Peace This Friday, April 30th, 2010 @ 6pm...The Rally Will Start In The Parking Lot Of Berkshire Medical Center And End At Park Square. Where There Will Be Speeches Given By Mayor Ruberto & Mayor Alcombright Along With Others...

All In All It Should Be A Very Inspirational & Peaceful Event & We Hope To Really See The Community Get Behind This Movement, Stand Up & Take Our Streets Back...Thank You!!!

Rally Aimed At "Calming Streets" In Pittsfield & North Adams- North Adams Transcript

2010-04-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

The killing of a former Pittsfield athlete last month has inspired a local rapper and master barber to bring his message of peace to the streets on Friday with the "I’m 4 Peace" rally in Pittsfield.

"We need to calm the streets of Pittsfield and North Adams," Christopher "BIGZ!" Barton, co-owner of the Klipper Kingz barbershop on Eagle Street, said Monday. "We need to have a quiet summer -- our kids deserve that. We need to do this in a nonviolent way and get a message of peace out there."

The "I’m 4 Peace" rally will begin at 6 p.m. sharp in the parking lot of Berkshire Medical Center and proceed up North Street, ending at Park Square. Mayors Richard J. Alcombright and James Ruberto are scheduled to speak at the event.

Barton, who worked at the Legends barbershop in Pittsfield, said he casually knew 26-year-old Jahda Martin, who died several hours after being stabbed multiple times in a Burger King parking lot in Pittsfield.

"I knew him through Legends-- in a barbershop setting," Barton said. "His [killing] struck a fire under me. Jahda didn’t strike me as a bad person -- we all have ups and downs in life. We all make mistakes and take missteps. He was at a point in his life where he had made a misstep.

"But the bottom line is, he didn’t deserve to die. No one deserves to die like that. We need to bring some kind of calm to this area. I don’t

expect to change things overnight, but I know things can change with a catalyst. Maybe I can be that catalyst -- talking to people can be one way to do it."

The peace rally is also serving as a fundraiser for the Elizabeth Freeman Center, which Barton has been working with for the past eight years. In February, Klipper Kingz raised $500 for the center by donating $5 from every haircut at the barbershop over a set week.

"We’re selling shirts that have been printed up by Eagle Street Graphics here in North Adams," he said. "For each shirt sold, $7 will be donated to the Elizabeth Freeman Center. The rest of the cost will go towards the printing of the shirts. My goal is to raise $10,000 for the center."

The Elizabeth Freeman Center is a nonprofit, county-wide program providing counseling and support services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. It maintains offices in Pittsfield and North Adams, along with a 24-hour hotline for battered women, which can be reached at 1-866-401-2425. Advocates are available 24 hours a day to help victims and will meet them at police stations, hospitals and courtrooms at any time of the day.

Barton said the rally has already gotten some high-profile support.

"Last Thursday, I attended a Snoop Dog concert in New York," he said. "Snoop Dog held one of our shirts up during the concert. He held it up in front of over 1,500 people, so I figure I can hold it up in front of the community as a whole and start the conversation about peace in the Berkshires."

He’s also hoping to inspire a generation of young men and women, using his connections to hip hop, to rally around peace and forgo violent solutions -- on the streets and in domestic situations.

"Hip hop is not bad -- rappers can do some good things and make statements," Barton, who does not use vulgarity or violent lyrics, said. "We just have to have the tenacity to get things done. There are some great things on the horizon for the Berkshires. We need to band together as a community. We need to be united and assert ourselves for peace."

Locals Plan Peace March- Berkshire Eagle

2010-04-28T07:09:00.000-07:00

Although Snoop Dogg won't be at Friday's peace rally in Pittsfield to commemorate a local man killed here last month, the famous hip-hop performer supports the message of the event, which is expected to draw a crowd and feature speeches by anti-violence advocates and politicians alike.

Christopher "BIGZ!" Barton, the North Adams barbershop owner and rap artist behind Friday's "I'm 4 Peace" rally, said he recently met Snoop Dogg at Northern Lights, a Clifton Park, N.Y., nightclub, where Snoop not only embraced the concept of the Pittsfield rally, but held up an "I'm 4 Peace" T-shirt promoting the event.

"I gave him the shirt and, without any hesitation, he turned around and showed it to the crowd," said Barton, the co-owner of Klipper Kingz Barbershop.

Barton, who's well-known throughout the Berkshires for promoting good causes, said having Snoop Dogg lend his support was a tremendous boost.

But what ultimately inspired Barton to organize Friday's march, which begins at 6 p.m. sharp at Berkshire Medical Center's Medical Arts Building, was the death of Jahda Martin, a former Lee High School basketball star who was stabbed to death outside of a Pittsfield nightclub on March 6.

"That just really set a fire under me," Barton said of Martin's death.

After gathering at BMC, rally participants will march down North Street, then detour to Wendell Avenue Extension, where a moment of silence and prayer will

be offered for Martin before the procession continues to Park Square. At the park, Barton, Pittsfield Mayor James M. Ruberto and North Adams Mayor Richard J. Alcombright are expected to offer remarks.

In the meantime, Barton is selling "I'm 4 Peace" T-shirts to promote a message of non-violence and tolerance. Barton said the shirts cost $20 apiece, with $7 from each sale benefiting the Elizabeth Freeman Center. Purchases can be made at Klipper Kingz Barbershop, 14 Eagle St., North Adams. More information is available by calling (413) 663-5464.

Police have already arrested half a dozen suspects in connection with Martin's death, which remains under investigation. The incident happened in the parking lot directly across from Club Groove, a troubled Wendell Avenue Extension night spot that might close for good after only eight months of operation.

Party Over At Club Site- Berkshire Eagle

2010-04-28T07:06:00.000-07:00

The city appears reluctant to allow another nightclub at a venue that has been plagued by violence and violations through the years.

The Pittsfield Licensing Board indicated it would reject Saif Safick's request to obtain the liquor license once held by the group that ran Club Groove at 17 Wendell Ave. Extension. Safick, of Pittsfield, had said he wanted to reopen the venue and rename it Martini's, hoping to change the spot's troubled image.

"I think that place is a lost cause. When you decide to move to a new location, you come back," Carmen C. Massimiano Jr., the Licensing Board chairman, told Safick Monday at his licensing hearing.

The three-member panel tabled Safick's request until it can determine how to formally vote against the liquor license transfer.

Another board member indicated he would not like to see another drinking establishment there.

"I'll vote in a minute to have a restaurant there, not a bar," board member Robert Quattrochi said.

Club Groove, which opened last July, suspended operations after encountering rowdy behavior, overcrowding issues and acts of violence. The same problems plagued several previous clubs under different names and management at 17 Wendell Ave. Extension.

The latest incident linked to the club occurred on March 6 when Jahda Martin was stabbed to death in a parking lot across the street. The incident started after Martin had left the club, according

to police.

While Safick presented the board with a business plan aimed at "more sophisticated nightlife entertainment in Pittsfield," city officials weren't impressed.

"We've been here before because the wording of the proposal seems similar to Club Groove," said Pittsfield Police Lt. Katherine O'Brien. "My concern this is deja vu all over again."

Safick is seeking to replace Christine Langlois as the manager of Pittsfield Entertainment LLC, the entity that holds the former Club Groove's liquor license.

Kermit Goodman, longtime resident of nearby First Street, called for an end to nightclubs at that location.

"I have watched a string of failures due to a lack of control and security," Goodman said to the Licensing Board. "We in that area are tired of being the staging area for badly run bars."

Club Groove Closes- Berkshire Eagle

2010-04-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

A city nightclub that has received a spate of negative publicity since it opened last July, including for a recent homicide only yards from its front entrance, has closed.

It remains unclear if Club Groove has shut down for good, or if the popular hip-hop dance club is merely on temporary hiatus.

But a member of the club's management team, who requested anonymity, said the owners of the business last week decided to voluntarily suspend operations while they consider other options for the location.

The Wendell Avenue Extension building that houses the nightclub has attracted unfavorable attention in the past. Club Groove's immediate predecessors -- Sabor Bar & Grille and Club Red -- were both plagued by rowdy behavior and occasional violence.

But Club Groove debuted on a sour note: A Pittsfield man allegedly assaulted two women just hours after the club's July 3 grand opening.

A patron was assaulted with a beer bottle inside the club in September, and Pittsfield police have responded to at least two calls since then.

The latest incident tied to the club was the March 6 killing of Jahda Martin, who was beaten and stabbed to death in the parking lot across from the club.

Police have said that Martin and his alleged assailants had been patrons of Club Groove just prior to the assault. A half-dozen defendants so far have been charged in connection with the homicide, and more arrests are possible,

according to police.

Information about the future of Club Groove should become available when the club's ownership, Pittsfield Entertainment LLC, addresses the city Licensing Board later this month. A show-cause hearing had been scheduled for March 29, but that matter was postponed.

The club's attorney, Thomas J. Hamel of Pittsfield, was out of town this week and is not expected back in the city until later this month, according to Hamel's assistant.

Northampton resident Dana Carpenter owns the property at 17 Wendell Ave. Extension, but Carpenter said he has nothing to do with the business.

"I own the building that leases to them," he said in a phone message Friday.

However, Carpenter had a general sense about changes that are afoot at the venue.

"Club Groove has not been given any orders to shut down," he said. "They're changing management, reorganizing a little bit."

Carpenter emphasized that he has "no interest" in the business, nor does he hold the liquor license for the club.

The club's management was cautioned last year to minimize any problems associated with the venue, which has been on city officials' radar for some time.

"We don't want to resurrect trouble at that location," Pittsfield Licensing Board Chairman Carmen C. Massimiano Jr. warned in September 2009.

"We're not going back to the days of police getting calls every Friday and Saturday night."

Forever Grateful & Thank You From All Of Us

2010-04-10T18:43:00.000-07:00

So Last Night Was A Huge Success, The Jahda Martin Benefit Was All It Was Supposed To Be & More...I Know At Least For Me That I Will Forever Remember Last Night, Alotta Good Memories, Laughs & Good Times, But Most Of All It Turned Out To Be A Drama-Free Celebration Of A Wonderful, Young Life...I'll Admit Last Night Started Out Slow But As We All Know The Party Never Started Until Jahda Walked In & He Was Always Fashionably Late...Once Again His Presence & Spirit Overwhelmed The Room, He'll Forever Be In Hearts & Always On Our Minds.

We Cannot Begin To Express How Grateful We Are For Everything Everyone Has Done, Your Prayers, Support & Donations Far Surpassed Anything We Could Have Ever Imagined...It Was Amazing To See The Younger Community Come Together & Show People That We Can Have A Good Time Without Any Problems, It Was So Great To Have So Many Close Friends In One Room, It Was Like A Big Family Reunion...Anyway Thank You Again From The Bottom Our Hearts For Everything, We Will Forever Be In Your Debt...GOD BLESS!!!

- Special Thank You To DJ YOUNGCHAMP & Artie Robb -
(Click Names For MySpace Links)

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT

2010-04-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

Everyone & Anyone Please Come Join Us In Celebrating The Life Of Jahda Marcus Martin...Our Friend, Our Brother, Our Son & A Great Spirit...He May Be Gone But His Name & Memories Will Live On Forever With Us, His Friends & Family...The Event Starts At 6pm & Will Be Held At The Econo Lodge In Lenox, MA...Admission Is $10 & You Must Be 21 Or Over...DJ YoungChamp Will Be Providing The Music For The Night & I Promise You That Ignorance, Violence & Drama Will Not Be Tolerated...

The Night Will Feature Live Entertainment, Dancing, Lots Of Food & Drinks, Raffles, Memorabilia & Plenty Of Laughs & Good Memories...Some Of The Items Available For Sale Are

T-Shirts- $10.00
Wristbands- $3.00
Bumper Stickers- $3.00
Tribute DVD- $3.00

THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT & WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!!!

A MESSAGE FROM RYAN GREGORY

2010-04-09T07:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone My Name Is RYAN GREGORY, For Those Who Don't Know I'm The One Behind This Website & I'm One Of The Many Friends Planning These "Benefits"...We Aren't Doing It To Patronize A Drug Dealer, We Are Doing It Because To Us, His Close Friends He Was A Great Person Regardless Of What Decisions He Made In Life...People Make Mistakes & People Learn From Them, He May Not Have Changed His Life After Being Arrested But He Now Will No Longer Have The Chance To Do So...What We Are Doing Is Making Sure His Name Lives On, So People Don't Forget What Can Happen If You Make The Wrong Choices...WE ARE ALL ABOUT PROMOTING ANTI-VIOLENCE & DRUG PREVENTION IN THE COMMUNITY...So Before You People Go Ahead Assume & Judge Just Know That ALL PROCEEDS FROM EVERY EVENT WILL GO DIRECTLY INTO THE JAHDA MARTIN FUND & WILL BE PUT TO GOOD USE IN THE COMMUNITY...A Scholarship Is A Scholarship, If We Have The Money To Help Someone Less Fortunate Achieve The Education They Deserve Then It Shouldn't Matter What Name The Scholarship Is In...Furthermore We Are Planning Anti-Violence Programs For The Children Of Pittsfield & We Will Also Be Promoting DRUG PREVENTION...Myself & His Friends Would Like To Thank Everyone Who Has Helped So Far & We Urge You To Ignore The Negativity Surrounding These Circumstances...Yes He Was A Convicted Drug Dealer But He Was Also Close To Many Here In The Berkshires & Many Other Places As Well...So We Should Not Be Ridiculed For What We Are Doing, To Us He Will Always Be Missed But Never Forgotten...We Loved Him & Always Will...Thank You For Time - RYAN GREGORY

Friends Of Jahda Martin Organize Benefits- Berkshire Eagle

2010-04-09T06:50:00.001-07:00

Supporters of a former Lee High School basketball star who was stabbed to death in Pittsfield last month are organizing a series of benefits to raise money to purchase a headstone for the slain man and to fund a memorial scholarship.

Jahda M. Martin, 26, was beaten and stabbed to death outside a Pittsfield nightclub on March 6, according to police, who have already charged several individuals and are expected to make more arrests.

A benefit is being planned for April 9 at the Econo Lodge in Lenox, although a hotel official reached Friday night could not confirm that date. Admission is $10 for the 21-and-over event, which is expected to feature a disc jockey and begin around 6 p.m.

A memorial summer basketball tournament is also in the works, but specific details were unavailable Friday. More information is available at www.jahdamartin.blogspot.com, a site that was recently established in memory of Martin. The blog enables people to share memories of the affable basketball star, but cautions: "If you came here to throw dirt on his name, you came to the wrong place."

It also tells how to donate money to the Jahda Martin Fund, which was established after his death, and how to purchase Jahda Martin T-shirts, bumper stickers, wristbands and tribute DVDs.

Standing 6 feet, 5 inches and weighing around 200 pounds, Martin was a standout athlete to say the least who

established a countywide reputation as a high-scoring player at Lee High School. The Bronx, N.Y., native went on to play college basketball before returning to the Berkshires, where he worked various jobs -- and ran afoul of the law.

Martin had a 2007 drug conviction on his record and picked up fresh felony drug charges just days before he was killed. Prior to coming to the Berkshires in 2000, Martin was a ward of New York state, where he had bounced around the foster care system for many years.

In the Berkshires, he became the foster child of a Lee couple, Douglas and Linda Ackerman, who at one point sought to adopt their lanky charge. But Martin resisted that move, according to Douglas Ackerman, prompting the couple to abandon their effort.

During the early morning hours of March 6, a group of men surrounded Martin after he left Club Groove, a popular Pittsfield night spot. They punched and kicked him, and at least one man stabbed Martin, according to investigators, who've yet to publicly identify a motive for the killing.

More than 350 people attended Martin's funeral at First Baptist Church in Pittsfield, where friends, former teammates and a community activist praised the young man's kind spirit.

The Jahda Martin Benefit

2010-03-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

The Benefit Is All Set And Will Take Place Friday, April 9th, 2010 At The Econo Lodge In Lenox, MA...The Event Will Start At 6:00pm With A Mixer/Social Until 9:00pm At Which Time There Will Be A DJ & Dancing Until 1:30am...Admission Is $10 & You Must Be 21 To Enter...Hope To See You There!!!

***WE WILL BE SELLING T-SHIRTS, BUMPER STICKERS, WRISTBANDS & TRIBUTE DVD's AT THE BENEFIT AS WELL AS THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT WITH ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO THE JAHDA MARTIN FUND***

Benefit & Tournament Information

2010-03-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

The Jahda Marcus Martin Benefit Is Tentatively Scheduled For Friday April 9th, The Location Is Yet To Be Determined But We Will Keep You Updated As We Gather More Information.

Also The Inaugural Jahda Martin Classic 5 on 5 Basketball Tournament Will Hopefully Be Taking Place On May 1st, The Location For The Games Is Also TBA...There Is A Entry Fee Of $20 Per Person With Teams Of No More Than 8 Players...Winners Will Get A Cash Prize & Their Team Name On The Jahda Martin Classic Trophy...All Registered Players Will Also Receive Free T-Shirts. Teams Can Register At The Benefit Or By Calling Ryan Gregory at 978-413-2663

Both Events Will Feature Plenty Of Opportunities To Purchase Jahda Martin Memorabilia Such As T-Shirts, Bumper Stickers, Wristbands & Tribute DVD's, With All Proceeds Going To The Jahda Martin Fund.

Check Back Frequently For Updates On Both Events...Thank You!!!

Inaugural Jahda Martin Basketball Classic

2010-03-25T15:28:00.000-07:00

We Are Now Planning An Annual Basketball Tournament In Jahda's Memory...More Information Will Be Coming Soon

Club Groove Called Before Licensing Board

2010-03-24T17:03:00.000-07:00

The Licensing Board has scheduled a show-cause hearing for Monday, March 29, at City Hall to discuss Wendell Avenue-nightclub The Groove. The hearing comes after 26-year-old Jahda Martin Of Pittsfield was stabbed in the parking lot of Burger King across the street from the club.

The owners of Burger King have also been invited to the hearing. According to Pittsfield Police, there have been several incidents connected with The Groove, including on Feb. 6 when a woman suffered a gash on her head after being struck with a beer bottle inside the club. A makeshift memorial to Martin has been created on the Wendell Avenue fence across the street from The Groove.

Got My T-Shirt Today...

2010-03-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here It Is Everybody...My RIP Jahda Martin T-Shirt...Coming Soon!!!

A Column By Berkshire Eagle Reporter, Derek Gentile

2010-03-21T15:34:00.000-07:00

I was at a funeral earlier this week. A younger man, in his mid-20s, became involved in an unexpected situation that was not of his making, and ended up dead.

I'm being deliberately obtuse because, in the long run, it doesn't really matter what this guy's name was. What was tragic was that he died so young.

He was in trouble in the last days and weeks of his life.

I know what that means, because I was in trouble a lot when I was in my teens. Nothing really bad.

(In fact, if you want to know how dumb my compatriots and I were as young teens, listen to this one: My friends and I were sitting on a bench on Park Street in Adams late one night, and a police officer snuck up behind us and surprised us.

"Okay," he said. "Were you guys smoking grass?"

We looked at him like he was nuts.

"Grass?" I said. "Why would we smoke grass?"

I pictured trying to smoke a cigarette with blades of grass stuffed inside.

Seemed nutty.

"Pot, marijuana," he said impatiently.

"Oh," we said. "No.")

Okay, and before I go any farther, I will freely admit that growing up in Adams in the 1970s is a different universe from Pittsfield in the 2010s. There are many people in Pittsfield now who are pretty fed up with the drugs on the streets and are frustrated that the dealers seem to be an endless army of creepy people. So when someone is alleged to have dealt drugs dies, there is no real sympathy. I

understand their point. I don't know how I would feel in that situation. I hope I'd be compassionate, but I'm not that strong a person, really.

The point was, I felt very much adrift as I was going through high school. I played sports, I did okay in class, I sang and played percussion in the Hoosac Valley High School Folk Club. But I had no idea what I was going to do with my life. This manifested itself, somewhat, in the way I presented myself. I had long hair. I wore tee shirts five days in a row and blue jeans with holes in the knees.

There were times when I embarked on what would be called minor infractions these days. Mostly acts of random vandalism, some of which, I admit, ended up being pretty expensive for someone to repair.

But I had a support system. My parents, coaches, teachers, all were willing to lend their thoughts. The irony was, I didn't think they understood. It sounds ridiculous now, but while I knew they had been as young as me at one point, I was convinced that my problems were unique. That I was unique.

I went to college, which helped. And eventually, when I was around 26, I figured out that, at least, I was going to be a writer. Some kind of writer.

Looking back, I realize that I've been extraordinarily fortunate. Not only did I realize my principal ambition, which was to write for a newspaper and write books, but I know now that the goal I set for myself was a worthy goal. I mean, I know a lot of people who have aspired to various careers, only to discover that the job they thought they wanted to do was not the job they eventually ended up doing. That may be as frustrating as not achieving you heart's desire. Maybe more frustrating, I don't know.

But for a long time, I took that support system for granted. I thought everybody had coaches, teachers, parents and older role-models to emulate.

Turns out that isn't true. Turns out, in fact, that in 2010, it's almost nonexistent for many younger people. For a lot of people who grew up in the last decade, their role models, mentors, etc., were few and far between. Or not there at all. So they had to make decisions based on whatever input they got, like television shows, movies and computer games. I'm not sure those things are the best ways of learning about life.

Okay, I'm not going to wind this up with a preachy punchline. All I'm saying is, the funeral made me think. I don't feel comfortable going to funerals for 20somethings. I wish the young man in question had a shot at a better life. I don't know if he would have, to be honest. But if I have a chance to help someone, if I have a chance to impart some serious advice to someone younger, I'll do my best. That's all I can do.

Possible T-Shirt Idea

2010-03-17T10:16:00.001-07:00

Above Is A T-Shirt I Designed...Check It Out & Let Me Know What You Think...

Jahda Martin Bumper Stickers

2010-03-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

I Have Found A Website That Will Make Jahda Martin Bumper Stickers That May Be Available In The Near Future, More Details To Come But Above Is The Design So If You Are Interested Let Me Know...All Proceeds Will Be Going To The Jahda Martin Fund

Sixth Person Held In Slaying- Berkshire Eagle

2010-03-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

A 30-year-old local woman surrendered to police on Tuesday and was charged in connection with the March 6 slaying of 26-year-old Jahda Martin, a former star athlete at Lee High School.

Police confirmed that Casey Ivory, 30, of 164 Onota St., turned herself in on Tuesday, the day her photograph ran in The Eagle as being wanted by authorities. She is the sixth person charged in the case.

Ivory was arraigned later in the day, and a not guilty plea was entered to the charge of being an accessory to murder, after the fact. Police allege that Ivory cleaned one of the getaway vehicles, a rented red Chevrolet Traverse, after Martin's murder in the parking lot at Burger King on Wendell Avenue Extension.

Police seized the vehicle earlier this week and found blood and other evidence inside. Another car, a brown Chevrolet Malibu, is also being processed for evidence. Police are still seeking a white, four-door vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Malibu.

Four facing murder charges

Four people have been charged with murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon in Martin's slaying: Terrance Brown, 26, of Springfield; Allen McGraw, 29, of Kingston, N.Y.; Trevor L. Pryce Jr., 28, of North Adams; and John C. Spratling, 26, of Pittsfield. All four men are being held at Berkshire County Jail & House of Correction without bail.

All four men accused of the slaying have various drug charges on their

rap sheet. The Kingston (N.Y.) Daily Freeman newspaper has reported that McGraw served time in state prison in 2002 for felony drug sales.

Crystal Gonzalez of Springfield has also been charged in the case, accused of assault with a deadly weapon and being an accomplice to murder.

Several still being sought

Pittsfield police said Tuesday that several other people are still being sought in connection with the crime. Police have interviewed several dozen witnesses to date and are seeking to interview others.

The police report alleges that Martin was assaulted in the parking lot by a number of men who exited at least one car and attacked him as he left Club Groove, a local nightspot. Martin was punched and kicked by his assailants, and stomped even as he fell to the ground. At some point, one of his assailants, described by some witnesses as Brown, stabbed him.

The assailants fled in cars, and left Martin bleeding to death in the parking lot. He was transferred to Berkshire Medical Center where he later died of his injuries.

However, when asked if Martin's death might have been premeditated, the district attorney's office declined to comment.

"We can't speak to motive because that's something we'll have to prove in a court of law," said Frederick Lantz, a spokesman for Berkshire District Attorney David F. Capeless.

The funeral for Martin, who grew up in New York City and moved to Berkshire County in 2000, was attended by 350 people on Monday.

Pittsfield police are asking that anyone who was at the scene to call the Pittsfield Police at (413) 448-9700.

A Poem By Brett Westbrook

2010-03-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

A young life stolen too soon, but the memories of you comfort our hearts

Your spirit is very much alive although we are physically apart

Mournful tears we may cry because you are no longer in our sight

But now you can live in peace above, you no longer have to fight

Fight the cruelty of this world, the struggles to survive this earth life

You have been set free from the burden of this senseless constant strife

Always connected as you make the sky above more beautiful each day

There is no way to justify how or why you were selfishly taken away

“Phenomenal” used to describe the highly extraordinary, unique and incredible

But most adequate to describe your character which is so unforgettable

We love you Jahda, in such a way that words cannot truly entirely express

The memory of you is still alive in the soul of us; now you lay peacefully to rest

-Brett Westbrook
“Bretty”- Jahda <3

"A Safe Place Now"- Berkshire Eagle

2010-03-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

Jahda M. Martin grew up in New York City without a family. But when he came to Berkshire County, he found one, at least for a short time.

More than 350 friends, teammates and extended family members packed the First Baptist Church on South Street on Monday morning to bid a final, sad farewell to the 26-year-old Martin, who was killed March 6 by a group of men in a near-empty parking lot on Wendell Avenue Extension in Pittsfield.

At the center of the First Baptist's altar was a huge picture of a smiling Jahda Martin in formal attire. To the right of that was another enlarged photo of Martin in his varsity basketball uniform from Lee High School, where he was a standout athlete. And to the right of that, a pair of Martin's basketball sneakers set on a small table.

Behind the altar, a video montage of Martin with friends and family members played.

At the rear of the church, there were several basketballs. They were signed with messages, not just by Martin's teammates, but by Martin's friends and family, as well.

"Jahda, I love you and miss you," one stated.

"Jahda, love forever," said another.

"Homie, you are in a safe place now," penned a third.

The service was an emotional one. Boxes of tissues were stationed in many of the pews. During the final musical interlude, "I'll Fly Away," a song written by Alison Krauss, the church resonated with the music and the sounds of many people

sobbing.

Several people spoke at Monday's service, including Douglas Ackerman of Lee, who took Martin in as a foster child when Martin came to Lee in 2000.

Bishop Jerome T. Edgerton Sr. officiated and, in his eulogy of Martin, quoted a biblical passage from John 14:2.

"In my Father's house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you," said Edgerton.

"Weep not," said Edgerton, "for [Martin] is going to His mansion."

Referring to the unhappy circumstances of Martin's death, Edgerton said, "Life is too short to hold grudges."

He continued, "In fact, before I go, I want you all to turn to your neighbor and give them a hug. Give someone a hug!"

And a vast majority of those in attendance hugged each other in the pews.

Heaven, said Edgerton, will be "phenomenal" for Martin.

"For all of you," said Edgerton in conclusion, "make the best of life. Do not let it pass you by. I pray to God to bless you all and keep you safe."

The benediction was given by the Rev. Kim Singletary, chaplain of Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Canaan, N.Y., where Martin lived during his early teens before moving to Lee.

"God," said Singletary, "I want to thank You for leading Jahda to this place."

She also asked God to bless the family and friends of Martin and keep them safe "until they finally see Jahda face to face again" in heaven.

Interment was at the Pittsfield Cemetery. The First Baptist Church hosted a reception for the mourners at its Fellowship Hall late in the afternoon.

Pallbearers for Jahda Martin were Wesley Williamson, Glen Davis, Jamel Black, Anthony Lee, Ryan Gregory, Orane Whitaker and Josh Baker.

Murder Supsects In Court- Berkshire Eagle

2010-03-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

A New York man pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges he participated in Jahda Martin's murder on March 6.

Allen McGraw, 29, of Kingston, N.Y., was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on one count of murder and a count of assault and battery with a deadly weapon. McGraw is the fourth person to be charged in the incident, and a fifth person has been charged as an accomplice.

Judge Frederic Rutberg ordered McGraw held at Berkshire County Jail & House of Correction without the right to bail. A pre-trial hearing was set for April 8.

McGraw was arrested Saturday at a Fort Hill Avenue residence in Pittsfield.

According to a police report, officers arrived at the Burger King parking lot across from Club Groove on Wendell Avenue Extension around 1:40 a.m. on March 6. They found a crowd of 10 to 15 people gathered around Martin who was "bleeding profusely." When officers approached, many of the people left, but five or six remained.

Police say McGraw was one of four or five people who got out of a car and rushed Martin, according to the police report.

Police have not yet determined a motive for the killing.

Witnesses told police the group punched and kicked Martin, even after he fell to the ground. One man, whom witnesses said was Terrance Brown, allegedly had a knife in his hand and seemed to be stabbing Martin.

Martin, a 2002 graduate of Lee High School where he was a star basketball

player, died later in the day at Berkshire Medical Center with stab wounds to the lower left abdomen. Martin's funeral was held on Monday.

Brown, 26, was arrested Wednesday night in Springfield. He is being held without the right to bail on one count of murder and one charge of assault and battery with a deadly weapon.

On March 8, Trevor L. Pryce Jr., 28, of Spring Street in North Adams, and John C. Spratling, 26, of Cherry Street in Pittsfield, were arrested and arraigned on one count each of murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon in the murder of Martin. Pryce and Spratling are being held without the right to bail.

Another suspect, Crystal Gonzalez, was also arraigned Monday on charges of being an accomplice to murder after the fact, and assault and battery with a deadly weapon. According to the police report, Gonzalez was driving the car in Springfield that was carrying Brown when he was arrested.

She had allegedly been in contact with Brown the day of the murder. Police questioned her the next day, when she said Brown had showed up at her house, saying that he had stabbed someone twice in the stomach during a fight in Pittsfield.

At the time, she told police she didn't know where Brown was, and that she would help to find him. He was later arrested riding in the car she was driving, according to police.

Rutberg ordered that Gonzalez be held in lieu of $25,000 cash or surety.

The police reports also allege that after the murder, someone attempted to clean the inside of a rented red Chevrolet Traverse before it was returned to the rental agency. Police later seized that vehicle and allegedly found blood and other evidence inside.

The Traverse was one of several vehicles seen fleeing the scene after the attack on Martin, according to Detective Capt. Patrick F. Barry, commander of the Pittsfield Police Department Special Operations Division. Another car being processed for evidence is a brown Chevrolet Malibu. Still being sought is a white, four-door vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Malibu.

He said several other people are still being sought in connection with the case.

And although police have interviewed several dozen potential witnesses, there are still others they hope to interview.

"We want to talk to every person that was at that bar when it closed," Barry said. "There are several people we would still like to speak with."

An autopsy on Martin has been completed, but Barry declind to comment on the official cause of death.

He asked anyone who was at the scene to call the Pittsfield Police at (413) 448-9700.

When Allen McGraw was arrested, police also arrested his 31-year-old brother, Derek McGraw, of Kingston, N.Y. He was charged with being a fugitive from justice on allegations that he had violated conditions of his probation in New York on drug law violations. Rutberg ordered that he also be held without right to bail.

A Tribute To Jahda Marcus Martin

2010-03-15T14:50:00.001-07:00

***Jahda Marcus Martin***
-The World's Greatest-

If Video Doesn't Play Click Here

THANK YOU SO MUCH & GOD BLESS EVERYONE

2010-03-15T13:44:00.001-07:00

On Behalf Of Everyone Involved In The Planning Of Jahda's Homegoing Ceremony, We Would Like To Say Thank You So Much For Your Prayers, Love, Support & Your Donations...It Was Truly Amazing To See How Many People He Really Touched & How Many Cared For Him...I Know That He Too Appreciates Everything That We Did, He Probably Would Have Never Imagined The Number Of People Who Were Pulling For Him, For Him To Succeed And Succeed He Did, From The Moment He Was Born To This Earth He Was A Success & He Left One As Well...He Overcame So Much To Become The Man We All Loved, So Keep Him In Your Hearts & In Your Memories Until The Great Day Comes When We Will See Him Again...

Thank You Once Again & A Million Times More For Everything That Everyone Has Done...We Will Forever Be Grateful For Your Help & Support...GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!

We Will Be Holding A Benefit Some Time In The Near Future, I Will Keep You Posted & We Will Be Continuing To Collect Donations For The Jahda Martin Fund To Go Towards His Head Stone & Eventually For A Scholarship In His Name At Lee High School.

Farewell To A Close Friend

2010-03-15T13:09:00.001-07:00

Today, March 15th, 2010, Was Easily The Hardest Day Of My Short Life...Today I Laid To Rest One Of My Closest Friends, It's Unbelievable How Different It Feels When You Lose Someone Your Own Age As Compared To An Elder. I've Never Experienced Any Type Of Grief Like This Before & I Can't Even Begin To Imagine The Pain That His "Family" Is Feeling, My Heart Goes Out To You Whitney & Brett...Every Time I Hear You Cry, I Hear So Much Hurt, Pain, Regret & Sorrow...Jahda Was A Unbelievable Person, His Spirit Was So Gentle Yet Strong, He Always Kept A Smile That Could Brighten The Darkest Of Days...As I Think About The Time I Shared With Jahda, Although It Was Short, It Was Filled With Hundreds Of Laughs, And A Lifetime Of Memories. There Is So Much To Say About Jahda That I Could Write Forever But I Want Everyone To Know That Today We Said Farewell To A Good One, A Kid Who Never Stood A Chance But Always Remained Positive, He Overcame So Much In So Little Time, He Was A Shining Star, Perhaps So Bright That God Must Have Needed Him Now For Something Greater...

I Felt Your Presence In That Church Today, I Hear Your Laugh & Your Deep Voice...When I Look At Your Pictures It Feels Like Yesterday...These Memories We Made I'll Cherish Forever...I Will Keep Your Name Alive Until I See You Again...Recently We Had Drifted Apart & Maybe That's Why I Feel So Much Regret, But I Promise To Never Forget You, I'm So Sorry This Had To Happen, I Love You, Kid...Can't Wait To See You Again In Your Mansion In The Sky...You Were One Of THE WORLD'S GREATEST!!!

Rest In Paradise

Jahda Marcus Martin

April 29th, 1983 - March 6th, 2010

4th Man Arrested In Jahda's Murder- Berkshire Eagle

2010-03-15T13:06:00.001-07:00

A New York man has been arrested in connection with last weekend's fatal stabbing of Jahda Martin, according to Pittsfield police. He is the fourth suspect to face murder charges in the case.

Allen McGraw, 29, of Kingston, was arrested late Saturday at a Fort Hill Avenue residence, said Capt. Patrick F. Barry. He was charged with murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in the stabbing.

McGraw's brother, Derek McGraw, 31, also of Kingston, was arrested as a fugitive from justice in connection with an alleged parole violation out of New York, Barry said. Both men are being held without bail pending arraignment this morning.

Martin, 26, a former star athlete at Lee High School, was stabbed to death in the parking lot of the Burger King on Wendell Avenue Extension early in the morning March 6. Police said he had been involved in an altercation with several other men, during which he had been stabbed and kicked.

Allen McGraw is the fifth person facing charges in connection with the stabbing. Trevor L. Pryce, 28, of North Adams, John C. Spratling, 26, of Pittsfield, and Terrance Brown, 26, of Springfield, all are being held on murder and assault and battery charges in the case.

Crystal Gonzalez, 21, of Springfield, was arrested Friday and charged with accessory after the fact to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon charges. Gonzalez was the driver of a car carrying Brown shortly before he was arrested late Wednesday in Springfield.

The stabbing remains under investigation, Barry said, and more arrests are expected.

Martin's funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the First Baptist Church at 88 South St.

Jahda Marcus Martin's Obituary- Berskshire Eagle

2010-03-13T04:53:00.000-08:00

1983 - 2010

Jahda Marcus Martin, 26, a former star athlete at Lee High School, died Saturday, March 6, 2010.

He was born in New York City April 29, 1983. Jahda became a ward of the state as a toddler. At age 14, he was assigned to live at the Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Canaan, N.Y. He transferred to Lee High School as a junior. Jahda was a 2002 graduate of Lee High School, where he was an All-Eagle selection in basketball his senior year. Jahda averaged 17.8 points per game as a senior forward-center, and helped lead the team to the Western Mass. Division III Finals, where Lee was beaten by Frontier. In his senior year, Jahda was named Most Valuable Player of the Berkshire County All-star basketball game, played at the Boys' and Girls' Club.

Jahda was awarded the Forfa Family Scholarship upon graduation, and attended Long Island University, where he became a walk-on for the basketball team, and was declared "one of the more gifted walk-ons we've ever had here," by LIU coach James Ferry.

Jahda eventually left Long Island University after almost two years, and returned to the Berkshire area. He returned to Berkshire Farm, where he was hired as a counselor. More recently, Jahda was employed by The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services. Jahda also continued playing basketball in local amateur leagues.

Jahda Marcus Martin leaves his loving foster parents, Linda and Douglas Ackerman, and their family; his devoted friend, Whitney Westbrook, and his "sister" Brett. Jahda also leaves his foster sister, Kelly McManmon, and three foster brothers, Garvey Altine, Glen Davis, and Anthony Lee. In addition, he leaves his close friend, Wesley Williamson, and many friends whom he considered his family, including the Westbrooks and the Edgertons. Jahda leaves many others who loved him.

FUNERAL SERVICES: Calling hours for Jahda M. Martin will be held Monday, March 15, at 10 a.m. at The First Baptist Church, 88 South Street, Pittsfield, MA. The funeral service will begin at 11:30 a.m. celebrated by Bishop Jerome T. Edgerton, Sr. Burial will follow at Pittsfield Cemetery. DEVANNY~CONDRON FUNERAL HOME is entrusted with arrangements. To express condolences, please visit www.Devanny-Condron.com.

There will be a reception at The First Baptist Church following the services; all are welcome. A candlelight vigil will be planned for a later date.

The friends of Jahda request that donations be made in his memory to the Jahda Martin Fund. These donations can be mailed or dropped off at any of the Greylock Federal Credit Union branches. Donations will be used to cover funeral and burial expenses, with the remaining funds to be used to establish a scholarship fund in Jahda's name at Lee High School.

4th Suspect Arrested- Berkshire Eagle

2010-03-13T04:52:00.001-08:00

A fourth suspect has been arrested in connection with last Saturday's fatal stabbing of Jahda Martin, according to Pittsfield police.

Crystal Gonzalez, 21, of Springfield, was arrested Friday evening at the Pittsfield Police station, according to Capt. Patrick F. Barry.

Gonzalez was the driver of a car carrying Terrance W. Brown shortly before he was arrested late Wednesday in Springfield, Barry said.

She was charged with counts of accessory after the fact of murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and held on $25,000 bail.

More arrests were expected, Barry said.

Martin, 26, a former star athlete at Lee High School, was stabbed to death in the parking lot of the Burger King on Wendell Avenue Extension early in the morning last Saturday. Police said he had been involved in an altercation with Brown and two other men, during which he had been stabbed and kicked.

A few days after the incident, police arrested Trevor L. Pryce, 28, of North Adams, and John C. Spratling, 26, of Pittsfield. They were arraigned Monday, and are due back in court April 8.

Martin's funeral is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m., at the First Baptist Church at 88 South St. The Devanny-Condron Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

FUNERAL INFORMATION

2010-03-12T18:56:00.001-08:00

Jahda's Funeral Service Will Be Held @ 10am On Monday, March 5th At The First Bapist Church On South St. In Pittsfield. Here Is A Breakdown Of The Service...

10am-11:30am - Viewing/Wake

11:30am-12:30pm - Church Ceremony

12:45pm-1:15pm - Burial Cermeony @ Pittsfield Cemetary

1:30pm-3pm - Reception Downstairs @ First Baptist Church

We Hope & Urge Everyone To Come And Join Us In Saying Goodbye To Our Love, Our Son, Our Brother, Our Friend & Yours Too...JAHDA MARCUS MARTIN

A Poem By LaTonia Morton

2010-03-12T07:32:00.001-08:00

THE DAY LIFE CHANGED

The day life changed was the day I heard your name
with a phone call
we lost it all...
Your smile, your laughter, your jokes, your hugs, your heart, your love...
The ones who feel compassion and sympathy always tell you "he's watching from above"
but that never good enough
Woulda, shoulda, coulda's plague my mind
If only I knew you were running on borrowed time.

The day life changed was the day yours was taken.
If only you knew just how many cared for you.
If only you knew just how many ache for you.
A literal pain, like a chunk of our heart ripped away
that can never be replaced.

The day life changed is when I look at your pictures
and have to tell myself that your gone... gone... not here.
My eyes wont see you again, my ears wont hear your voice.
The smallest things taken for granted...
You were taken without choice.

You were a shinning star here on earth
and now shinning brighter with the lord.
I know your in a good place now
where your star can soar.

The day life changed is when I finally have to say goodbye.
From time to time I find myself in a daze...
just for a moment I'm remembering your face.
You will never be forgotten and forever missed.

The day you were taken...
was THE DAY LIFE CHANGED!

Jahda's Story To Be Featured Tonight On CBS 3 Springfield

2010-03-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

The People From CBS 3 Springfield Heard About Jahda's Story And Said They Would Love To Help Get More Information Out To As Many People They Could, So Tonight @ 6pm Jahda's Story Will Be Featured On The Evening News. So To Watch It Live Tune Into Channel 3 (Time Warner) At 6pm Or At Around 7:30pm The Video From The Newscast Will Be Available At www.cbs3springfield.com

3rd Man Arrested In Jahda's Murder- Boston Herald

2010-03-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

Springfield police have arrested a man wanted in connection with a stabbing death in Pittsfield.

Police say 26-year-old Terrance Brown was arrested early Thursday morning by officers on routine patrol who spotted Brown ducking down inside a vehicle.

Brown is one of three suspects in the death of 26-year-old Jahda Martin, who was found stabbed in the parking lot of a Pittsfield Burger King early Saturday. He died at a hospital later in the day.

Martin was a 2002 graduate of Lee High School where he was a star basketball player who went on to play in college.

Two men have already been arraigned in connection with the stabbing. Thirty-eight-year-old Trevor Pryce Jr. of North Adams and 26-year-old John Spratling of Pittsfield pleaded not guilty to murder.

An Editoral Article From My Mother- Berkshire Eagle

2010-03-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

My oldest son introduced Jahda Martin to our family back in 2001 when he started playing basketball at Lee High. He and another friend visited our home around Halloween that year, and we were touched by the fact that neither of them knew what trick-or-treating was. My kids then realized how lucky they were to have been raised in a caring family environment.

At first I was intimated by these very tall men standing in my kitchen, I am proud to say that it made me overcome my fears of these boys that were thought to be "just trouble." I realized that they were humans just like us. Jahda would visit our home from time to time. He was always polite to me, and he and his friend actually addressed me as "Ma'am."

Jahda was killed this past weekend. Jahda had no family to come forward as he lay in the hospital on a life support system. He was a child who came from nowhere, his journey in life was a sad one. It must have been a lonely existence, not knowing where you came from, or even worse, not knowing who you came from.

Going through this horrible experience with my son has been very difficult. He and his friends are desperately trying to raise money so that their friend Jahda can have a simple funeral and burial. They are all he had, the only family he knew. I am very proud of my son for coming forward and trying to give a fellow human being, a friend, a goodbye. Jahda had a wonderful basketball career, but he struggled in many other aspects of

life. The bottom line is that he had friends who cared about him. Some of them that may not have kept in touch, just to protect their families or themselves, but they still cared about him. He left an impression with them.

I work at the Pittsfield Boys & Girls Club and I admire the work our staff does to give kids a sense of belonging and the tools they need to succeed in society, so we don't have another Jahda story.

My son and friends are making funeral and burial arrangements with a local funeral home for Jahda, to give him a simple goodbye. To make a donation towards Jahda's funeral, please go to jahda.martin.blogspot.com for directions to local bank. All monies raised will go directly to the funeral home. As a mother, I thank you.

C. BLACHE

Lee

Jahda Martin Memorial @ Burger King

2010-03-10T09:30:00.000-08:00

A Memorial Has Been Started In The Burger King Parking Lot...Please Feel Free To Drop Off Flowers, Candles, Prayers Or Anything Else You Feel Is Appropriate...Thank You Again For All Your Support, Love & Prayers...Jahda Is Looking Down On Us All With His Big Smile Knowing That There Was So Many Who Loved Him...R.I.P. Jahda "Butta" Marcus Martin aka J-Hood!!!

Fund Information & Biography- Berkshire Eagle

2010-03-10T04:31:00.001-08:00

Until he came to the Berkshires about 12 years ago, Jahda Martin had no one. No mother. No father. No sisters. No brothers. No family.

At least that he ever really knew of.

"There was so little documentation on him before [Martin came to] Berkshire Farm," recalled Douglas Ackerman of Lee. Ackerman and his wife Linda took Martin in as a foster child when Martin transferred from the Berkshire Farm Center to Lee High School in 2000.

"We heard that his mother left or died when he was 2 years old, but we're not really sure of that," said Ackerman, who expressed his great sadness over Martin's death. "Once, Jahda told me that he had a picture of his mother and lost it. But I don't know if it was true. It was almost a fantasy, something Jahda wanted to believe. Something he hoped was true."

Martin, 26, was stabbed to death last Saturday in the parking lot of a local fast-food eatery on Wendell Avenue Extension, according to police. Martin, a 2002 graduate of Lee High School, died at 8:50 p.m. that night.

Two men, Trevor Pryce Jr. of North Adams and John C. Spratling of Pittsfield, have been arrested in connection with the case. A third man, Terrance W. Brown, formerly of Springfield, is also being sought by police.

Greylock account set up

Presently, as Martin has no relatives, friends have set up an account at the Greylock Federal Credit Union called the "Jahda Martin Fund" to cover funeral and

burial expenses. People can bring their donations directly to any Greylock Federal Union branch, or drop them off at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts on 28 Renne Ave., just off Fenn Street between First and North streets. Checks may be made out to the Jahda Martin Fund.

A tentative funeral date has been set for next week.

Martin was a foster child at an early age growing up in New York City. There was, according to Ackerman, a brief stint with a foster mother when Martin was a pre-teen. The woman, Ackerman believes, died of cancer. They may also have been another placement prior to Martin's stay at Berkshire Farm, but it is not documented, said Ackerman.

In 2000, Martin came to Lee from Berkshire Farm under the care of the Ackerman family, who have taken in 16 foster children over the years. Martin was enrolled at Lee High School, along with two other youngsters from Berkshire Farm.

"I was a little concerned," conceded former Lee High School principal Richard Salinetti. "We don't have a lot of minority kids here in Lee. And, Jahda had never been in a regular high school. I worried there would be adjustments."

Salinetti was concerned enough to call Martin into his office regularly to see if the young man had any problems or concerns.

There were few concerns, recalled Salinetti. Martin was soft-spoken, quiet, but popular. He thrived, and was finally happy, with a family and friends.

"One of the best kids we've ever had here," he said. "He made Lee High School a better place."

When he heard of the circumstances of Martin's death, Salinetti said, "I was dumbfounded. I was stunned. He was such a good boy.

"I would see him from time to time," Salinetti continued. "He would come back to Lee to watch a game and he would always say hi. I wish now he had never left Lee."

Martin learned to play basketball at Berkshire Farm, eventually excelling in it at Lee High School. He continued to play at Long Island University, but returned to the Berkshires after two years. From there, he took several jobs in social service agencies. He also continued to play basketball in local recreation leagues.

Martin had a brush with the law at about this time. On July 26, 2007, he was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He was eventually convicted and served time in the Berkshire County Jail & House of Correction.

"I know people in law enforcement, and about two weeks before Jahda got in trouble [in 2007], I got a phone call from one of them," said Ackerman. "He told me Jahda was in over his head. The thing is, they told me this because they liked Jahda. They didn't want him to get in trouble."

Ackerman was concerned enough to call Martin to his house to talk about it.

"And he admitted it," said Ackerman. "He never denied it. He said he needed to make some quick money. He said it was a short-term thing. And two days later, he was arrested."

Ackerman doesn't deny that his foster son made bad decisions.

"But he was legitimately a good kid."

"[Drugs were] a part of his life for a very short time," agreed Shirley Edgerton, the director of Youth Alive, who knew Martin as a teen. "But this was not a kid who was preoccupied with the street."

"He had a great support system when he was at Berkshire Farm and then at Lee [High School]," said Salinetti. "And I always worried about what would happen when he didn't have that any more."

When Martin was still in high school, Ackerman recalled that he and his wife sought to adopt him.

"And we asked Jahda about it, if he would liked us to adopt him," said Ackerman. "But he said, ‘No, I've been this way for so long, I think that's how I'll stay.' "

Berkshire Eagle Biography

2010-03-10T04:30:00.001-08:00

Any murder is tragic, but the stabbing death of Jahda Martin, 26, this weekend in Pittsfield is particularly sobering. Mr. Martin's athletic skills had at one time appeared to give him a second chance at life after a difficult start. That potential, however, ultimately went unrealized.

Mr. Martin was found lying in the parking lot of Burger King on First Street early Saturday morning and died later Saturday after being transported to Berkshire Medical Center. Two Berkshire County men were charged Monday in connection with his death, and a third was being sought.

Born in New York City, Mr. Martin was a ward of the state as a pre-teen. Happily, at the age of 14, he was assigned to Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Canaan, N.Y., and from there went to Lee High School as a junior. A talented basketball player, the 6-foot-5 Mr. Martin was an All-Eagle selection his senior year, won the Forfa Family Scholarship upon his graduation in 2002, and played some college basketball at Long Island University. He then went into the counseling profession, but in 2007, was found guilty of possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute and was briefly jailed.

"I went to Lee to play basketball, but there was far more to it than that," Mr. Martin told The Eagle in a 2002 profile. "Lee was an opportunity for me to do many things, and it was an opportunity I was grateful for."

Mr. Martin appeared to make the most of that opportunity but

somewhere it went awry. There was the slide into drugs, and early Saturday morning, a brutal death in a darkened parking lot.

Updates On The Jahda Martin Fund

2010-03-09T15:20:00.000-08:00

The Fund Is Up And Running, Thank You To All Who Have Donated So Far...Just To Go Over It Again Here's How You Can Donate...

1.) In Person At Your Local Greylock Federal Credit Union

2.) By Check Made Payable To: The Jahda Martin Fund

- For People Donating From Out Of Town Please Mail Your Check To:

Greylock Main Office
150 West St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201

Thank You All So Much...Your Donations, Love, Prayers & Support Are All Greatly Appreciated In This Time Of Mourning...GOD BLESS!!!

Support The Jahda Martin Fund

2010-03-08T12:53:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

Thank you again for all your support! I just wanted to let everyone know that there has been a Fund set up in order to collect funds to support Jahda's funeral and burial. If you would like to contribute you can go to any Greylock Bank and make a deposit to the Jahda Martin Fund. All checks should be made out to the Jahda Martin Fund.

If you are giving donations to anyone other than Brett Westbrook , Jernee edgerton, or depositing directly to the fund, your money is not going towards supporting Jahda Martin. Unfortunately the reality of the situation is that some people are trying to make money off of our terrible loss.

Also, we are collecting pictures of Jahda to be displayed at the funeral so please contact us if you have any you would like to to shown.

If you could dedicate your facebook status to sharing this information it would be extremely helpful...

Your help is very needed and greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

2 Of 3 Suspects Arrested (Berkshire Eagle)

2010-03-08T12:52:00.000-08:00

Two men have been arrested and a third is being sought by police in connection with the stabbing death of a Pittsfield man late Saturday night, according to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office.

Trevor L. Pryce Jr., 28, of Spring Street, North Adams, and John C. Spratling, 26, of Cherry Street, Pittsfield, were arraigned this morning in Central Berkshire District Court in Pittsfield. Each had not guilty pleas entered to one count each of murder and assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.

Pryce and Spratling are being held without the right to bail.

Investigators have also applied for and received an arrest warrant for 26-year-old Terrance W. Brown in connection with death of Jahda Martin, a 26-year-old Pittsfield man.

Pryce and Spratling are scheduled to be back in Central Berkshire District Court for a pre-trial hearing on April 8.

The World's Greatest

2010-03-08T07:26:00.000-08:00

YOUTUBE VIDEO- Click For Link

What I Remember...

2010-03-08T05:49:00.000-08:00

Jahda Was Born In The Bronx, NY, Where He Grew Up Until Entering Berkshire Farm School In Lebanon, NY. While At The Farm Jahda Became A Rising Basketball Star, Basketball Came So Easy To Him, He Was Such A Raw Talent. Upon Entering His Senior Year Jahda Moved To Lee, MA Where He & His "Brother" Glenn Davis Led The Wildcats To The Western Mass. Championship. After High School He Attended Long Island University To Play Basketball...Things Didn't End Up Working Out And He Left For Another School. Although He Didn't Stay In School For Long, He Never Gave Up Basketball...So Many Kids Looked Up To Him And He Made Them All Better Players...Yes, Jahda May Have Gotten In Trouble But That In No Way Dictates Who He Is As A Person, He Was Always A Fun Loving, Kind, Caring & Humble Man And The Way He Life Ended Is A Horrible Tragedy...No One Would Ever Deserve That Especially Him. Since The First Time I Met Jahda There Was Only One Constant In His Life And That Was His Girlfriend, Who Loved Him Without Any Boundary, True Love That Knew No Limit And My Heart Goes Out To Her & Her Family In This Time Of Mourning...You May Have Trouble Finding His Real Family But I Know There Are Hundreds Of Friends And Other Loved Ones That Wouldn't Hesitate To Call Him "FAMILY"...R.I.P. J-HOOD...YOU WILL BE MISSED

News Video

2010-03-08T05:18:00.000-08:00

Courtesy Of 22 News- Click Link For Video

Berkshire Eagle

2010-03-08T05:16:00.000-08:00

Jahda Martin, 26, of 26 Hamlin St., a former star athlete at Lee High School, was identified by police late Saturday night as the victim of a stabbing in the parking lot of a local fast-food establishment.

According to the district attorney’s office, police responded to several 911 calls at about 1:40 a.m. on Saturday morning. Callers reported that a man had been stabbed, and was lying in the parking lot of the Burger King Restaurant on Wendell Avenue Extension. Police did not detail where Martin had been stabbed.

Martin was transported to Berkshire Medical Center for treatment, where he died later that evening.

An autopsy to determine the cause of death will be conducted at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Holyoke. The date and time of the autopsy have yet to be determined.

The parking lot, a large, fenced-in area, is across the street from the nearby Club Groove, a popular local late-night bar. Police said Martin had left the club before the incident occurred. A witness reported that Martin was involved in an altercation with at least one other individual before the stabbing. According to the witness, who asked not to be identified, Martin did not appear to be armed.

Martin, according to Eagle files, was a 2002 graduate of Lee High School, where he was an All-Eagle selection in basketball his senior year. Martin averaged 17.8 points per game as a senior

forward-center, and helped the Wildcats to the Western Mass. Division III Finals, where Lee was beaten by Frontier.

In his senior year, Martin was named MVP of the Berkshire County All-star basketball game, played at the Boys’ and Girls’ Club.

The 6-foot-5 Martin won the Forfa Family Scholarship upon graduation, and eventually attended Long Island University. He was a walk-on for the basketball team, and was declared "one of the more gifted walk-ons we’ve ever had here," by LIU coach James Ferry in an interview with The Eagle.

Martin’s early life was a difficult one. Born in New York City, Martin became a ward of the state as a preteen. At age 14, he was assigned to live at the Berkshire Farm Center and Services for Youth in Canaan, N.Y.

He transferred to Lee High School as a junior.

Martin eventually left Long Island University after almost two years there, and returned to the Berkshire area. He returned to Berkshire Farm, where he was hired as a counselor. He later took a job with the state Department of Mental Retardation.

Martin also continued playing basketball in local amateur leagues.