Casche Alford, 17, of Camden, was held on $1 million bail.
CAMDEN -- About halfway through Friday's arraignment of Casche Alford, the 17-year-old's mom and the mother of the late Nathaniel "Nate" Plummer, Jr. found themselves separated by nothing more than an empty aisle.
Alford, who was waived up to adult court Thursday and has been charged with murder for Plummer's death, appeared Friday wearing a Polo shirt, chains around her waist and sporting a closely cropped hair cut. She did not speak, but her attorney entered a "not guilty" plea on her behalf.
Citing Alford's mother and grandmother in attendance, attorney Jordan Zeitz said his client has "strong community ties" and had thus far been a "model inmate" after spending the past five months in a juvenile detention center.
Alford's mother declined comment when approached after the hearing. Taisha Mercado, seated mere feet from her son's accused killer, shook her head repeatedly as Alford's lengthy juvenile criminal history was aired.
"The risk of flight is huge," assistant prosecutor Lauren Pratter said of the defendant, who does not have a valid driver's license but previously had driving infractions lodged against her.
A call for unity at slain teen's wake
In the case laid out by Pratter, Alford and Plummer -- an Octavius V. Catto Community School 7th grader who was 13 at the time of his death -- were familiar with each other. However, authorities said Plummer had received a Facebook message from a friend indicating Alford was going to "set him up."
On the night of the shooting, the two were together in a vehicle when Plummer exited it and was allegedly shot multiple times as he walked away after being dropped off.
Pratter said Alford told at least two people she had killed the teen. What's more, authorities said Alford told Plummer's mother that she had dropped him off at his grandmother's house on the night of the shooting.
Authorities said seven spent .380 caliber shells were found at the scene. Ballistics tests on those shells revealed a match with those found at the scene of a non-fatal Oct. 2015 Camden shooting Alford turned herself in for earlier this year. She was wanted on an attempted murder charge in that case.
On a Twitter account page that appears to belong to Alford, the teen is seen pointing what looks like a handgun at the camera.
One of the people Alford reportedly told about the shooting later told authorities where they could find the alleged murder weapon, which was later recovered.
"We have witnesses who know the defendant and identified her as being involved," Pratter said.
Superior Court Judge John T. Kelley ordered Alford held on $1 million bail, despite Zeitz's request that it be placed at the lowest possible amount of $250,000.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.