By: Tracie Carter
An Essex County man has been convicted of murder and a series of related charges stemming from a deadly shooting in Newark and a disturbing scheme to silence a witness, according to a statement released by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
On April 17, an Essex County jury found Isaiah J. Knight, 31, of East Orange, guilty of first-degree murder, multiple weapons offenses, and conspiracy to commit witness tampering in connection to the June 1, 2021, killing of 23-year-old Tyzier White on Campbell Street in Newark.
The verdict was delivered in a courtroom overseen by Judge Ronald D. Wigler.
Prosecutors said Knight fatally shot White five times at close range following a personal dispute involving the victim, Knight, and his cousin. Two eyewitnesses came forward during the investigation and testified that the shooting appeared to be intentional and targeted.
Following the murder trial, county officials said Knight was also convicted in a separate proceeding for first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon by a person prohibited, tied to a prior aggravated assault conviction in 2013.
The jury further determined that Knight qualifies as a persistent offender.
In a troubling twist, authorities said Knight attempted to interfere with the investigation by targeting one of the key eyewitnesses.
According to the prosecutor’s office, Knight orchestrated an effort to intimidate the witness, including luring him to a location where two men tried to force him, at gunpoint, to retract his statement by signing a false affidavit.
The setup was allegedly facilitated by a female associate of the defendant.
Jailhouse communications uncovered during the investigation led to the arrests of Knight’s sister, cousin, and girlfriend for their alleged involvement in the witness intimidation plot. Their cases remain pending.
Prosecutors also revealed that the same eyewitness and his family were harassed through threatening text messages, and his police statement was manipulated into a rap video featuring lyrics aimed at “snitches,” which was then posted on social media.
Knight is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2025, and faces up to life in prison.