By: Richard L. Smith
Thomas Johnson, a 31-year-old from East Orange, was found guilty of aggravated assault and weapons charges for attacking three construction workers in Newark.
The Essex County jury reached its verdict after eight hours of deliberation, ending on Thursday, October 31, according to Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II.
Assistant Prosecutor Monica Calderon prosecuted the trial, which took place before Judge John I. Gizzo.
The charges stem from an incident on November 2, 2021, when Johnson followed the construction crew from a Home Depot on Springfield Avenue to their job site at 676 South 14th Street in Newark.
Upon arrival, two workers were unloading supplies when Johnson confronted them with a handgun.
He reportedly kicked down a ladder, leaving a third worker stranded on the roof, then proceeded to pistol-whip one of the workers and fired his weapon multiple times, damaging the crew's truck.
Johnson was identified using a witness, cell phone evidence, and surveillance footage from both Home Depot and the crime scene.
Prosecutor Stephens emphasized the importance of the guilty verdict, which reflects the severe consequences of violent actions in the community.