Lawyer: Police Have Evidence Client Wasn't Behind Fatal LI Shooting Of 12-Year-Old

MINEOLA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The lawyer for a man accused in the fatal shooting of a 12-year-old Long Island girl says his client didn't do it and that police have evidence that would clear him of the charges.

Jakwan Keller, 20, has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the death of 12-year-old Dejah Joyner, who authorities said was struck and killed by a stray bullet in her own home last October.

Keller's attorney, Bruce Barket, contends his client did not fire the shot that killed the Hempstead girl.

"My client had absolutely nothing to do with the death of this young girl," Barket told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs. "He was not there, he was not outside the house, he had absolutely nothing to do with this shooting."

He claims someone else committed the crime, and says police have and must bring forward evidence that would clear his client.

"Another individual is involved in the shooting, that the shooting didn't take place the way they said with a drive-by, and that there were other shootings at this house," Barket said.

Police allege Keller, an alleged Bloods gang member, fired the fatal shot in retaliation after his brother's hoverboard was stolen.

Keller was taking aim at a rival gang member on Oct. 16 when the seventh-grader was killed, police said. The young girl was helping serve dinner when a bullet smashed through her front window and struck her in the head, police said. She died the next day.

The intended target was in "proximity of the home," but Acting Nassau Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter refused to provide further details.

Keller has been indicted on an unknown felony charge and will continue to be held without bail pending his next court appearance on Feb. 2.