Judge won't lower bail for aspiring hoops star charged in shooting, attempted robbery

He was named player of the year as a Vaux High School senior in 2013, was leading scorer in his sophomore year at St. John's University in New York, and was signed to play semipro basketball for a league in China.

But Rysheed Jordan's hopes for an NBA career were sidelined Thursday when a Philadelphia judge refused to reduce his $900,000 bail on charges the 22-year-old Brewerytown man wounded a man during a May 27 robbery.

Municipal Court Judge Marvin L. Williams at first seemed open to reducing the bail, which defense lawyer Brad V. Shuttleworth called "exorbitant."

Shuttleworth argued that Jordan had never previously been arrested, and introduced 12 supporters including Jordan's mother, Amina Robinson, siblings and cousins, and the Rev. Richard Rock, chaplain of St. John's athletics.

Shuttleworth asked Williams to drop bail to $100,000 and to let Jordan post the usual 10 percent. He said Jordan agreed to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet if needed.

Assistant District Attorney Shuaiyb Newton argued to keep bail at $900,000, saying Jordan confessed to his role in the shooting after he was arrested June 1. Jordan allegedly bolted from a car in which he was riding after police stopped the driver for running a red light at Broad and Norris Streets in North Philadelphia.

Newton said police chased Jordan on foot and caught up to him in a dead-end alley, where he tossed a .45-caliber pistol. Newton said the pistol was being tested to see if it was the gun used in the May 27 robbery, in which a man was shot twice in the arm.

"It's very serious," Newton told Williams. "He's proven he will run, and right now he is a danger to the community."

Williams seemed almost apologetic as he explained balancing Jordan's lack of a prior record against the allegations and the "need to protect society."

"No bail decrease, I'm sorry," Williams said.

The lanky, 6-foot-4 point guard did not visibly react to the judge's ruling before he was led from courtroom by a deputy sheriff.

Jordan's family and friends still seemed in shock at his situation, which they say was out of character and did not make sense considering his promising future in professional basketball.

Shuttleworth said afterward that he would refile a motion to reduce bail when the case goes to Common Pleas Court.

That will happen faster than anyone expected.

Thursday was supposed to have been Jordan's preliminary hearing on 10 charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault, conspiracy, robbery, and gun crimes.

Instead, Newton announced that the District Attorney's Office would take the case to an indicting grand jury. The prosecution usually goes to the grand jury when witnesses are reluctant to come forward or cooperate, or are afraid of retaliation. Grand jury proceedings are secret.

According to Newton, the May 27 shooting occurred at 4:15 p.m. when two men parked outside the Athletic Recreation Center at 1400 N. 26th St. got out of the car to buy marijuana.

Newton said Jordan and two other men - all armed - approached the pair and ordered them to turn over their money.

When the alleged buyers ran to their car, Newton said, the three gunmen fired six rounds, hitting one man twice in the arm.

Newton said security video shows Jordan running into the rec center. He said Jordan admitted hiding the gun in a 13-year-old's book bag and walked the teen's home before retrieving the weapon.

Authorities have not identified the two victims or Jordan's alleged accomplices.

jslobodzian@phillynews.com

215-854-2985 @joeslobo

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