An 18-year-old man accused of robbing and ultimately killing a man in Elizabeth, pleaded not guilty in front of Judge Brenda Coppola Cuba today.
According to authorities, Jimmy Kearney, 18, was charged with first-degree felony murder, first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, and two related weapons offenses in connection with the death of 61-year-old Robert Rouse.
Elizabeth Police Department patrol units responded to the 400 block of Walnut Street in Elizabeth shortly before 6 a.m. Monday to find the body of Rouse, who was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Armando Suarez, who is prosecuting the case.
An intensive joint investigation by the Union County Homicide Task Force, Union County Prosecutor’s Office High Tech Unit, Elizabeth Police Department, Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit, and Union County Police Department Ballistics Unit quickly resulted in Kearney being identified as a suspect, and he was arrested without incident late Monday afternoon, Suarez said.
Kearny's bail remained at $750,000, according to officials.