65 years in prison for murdering man who bumped into his friend

Jaebrel Miles, a South Side man who was just 17 years old at the time, has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Jeffrey King outside an Avalon Park gas station in 2021. The case, which spanned nearly four years of legal proceedings including a jury trial and post-trial filings, has finally come to a conclusion.

Miles, who already had a juvenile felony gun case pending at the time of the shooting, and his friend had gone to the gas station in the 8300 block of South Stony Island to grab some snacks on the late morning of May 28, 2021. A brief shoulder bump between King and Miles’ friend outside the gas station led to a verbal altercation, but the situation seemed to have de-escalated when King entered the store.

However, Miles and another friend returned to the gas station later, with surveillance footage capturing the confrontation between the men and King inside the business. It was during this encounter that Miles allegedly pulled out a gun and fired shots, striking King multiple times and resulting in his death.

Miles was apprehended later that day while riding in a Lyft, where police discovered a loaded handgun with a defaced serial number and illegal substances in his possession. Following a jury trial in April 2024, Miles was found guilty of four counts of murder. Recently, Judge Angela Munari-Petrone imposed a 65-year sentence, which Miles must serve in full. His projected release date is July 3, 2086, taking into account time served.

Despite the lengthy sentence, Miles’ legal troubles are far from over. Court records reveal that he faces an additional 12 felony cases, all filed while he has been in jail, most of which involve aggravated battery of Cook County Sheriff’s Office employees. Each of these cases could potentially result in additional time being added to his prison term.

The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence and the importance of addressing the root causes of such senseless acts. This case highlights the need for effective intervention strategies to prevent similar tragedies in the future.