New details emerge at preliminary hearing of Allen Marcus Gardner, suspect in MJ Daniels murder

HATTIESBURG, Mississippi (WDAM) – Testimony from a police officer during the preliminary hearing of Allen Marcus Gardner revealed new details in the case of MJ Daniels, Jr., a USM football player killed in June.

Gardner was charged with attempted armed car theft and felony assault.

Gardner appeared in a red and white jumpsuit and sat handcuffed in the courtroom at the Forrest County Jail.

Sergeant Chadra Daniels of the Hattiesburg Police Department, who served as lead investigator on the case, took the stand to explain the role Gardner allegedly played in the murder.

According to investigators, Gardner, who is originally from Houston, Texas, had only been in Hattiesburg for about a month and a half before the shooting.

Before Gardner's arrest, investigators called his father and claimed Gardner was involved in the incident. Gardner's father told investigators his son was home and they could come and take him into custody.

Gardner did not provide any information during questioning. During questioning, he stated that if he was shown pictures, he might be able to remember the events and the people involved. Despite being shown pictures, Gardner still stated that he could not remember anything that happened that night.

During the hearing, it was revealed that the previous lead investigator on the case was related to Gardner and had to recused himself from the case. Daniels took over his position as lead investigator.

It was also revealed that Gardner suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident earlier this year. According to his lawyer, Gardner needs to be “taken care of.”

Samir Green, another suspect in the case, was able to identify Gardner and said he was with him before, during and after the shooting.

Orlando May and Green, two of the four suspects in the case, agreed that Gardner had a gun, allegedly a .38 caliber revolver. Green claimed that Gardner fired his gun.

According to investigators, the revolver was not the murder weapon.

It is still unclear who fired the weapon that killed Daniels.

Three of the four suspects have already confessed to their involvement. Gardner is the only one who has not made an official statement.

It was also revealed that Gardner was no longer a minor as he turned 18 in prison.

Gardner's attorney asked Judge Gay Polk-Payton to rule that there was insufficient probable cause to arrest Gardner and that the suspicion was “flimsy.”

Polk-Payton found there was sufficient probable cause to arrest him and ruled that the cases should be referred to the grand jury at the state's request.

No date has been set for Gardner's next court appearance.

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