By: Richard L. Smith
On Wednesday an Essex County jury found 20-year-old Mahdi Wright guilty of first-degree murder and related weapons offenses, as reported by Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II.
The conviction stems from an incident on February 16, 2022, where Wright, originally from Newark and now residing in Elizabeth, New Jersey, fatally shot 25-year-old James Shaw, Jr., also of Newark.
The violent encounter took place on the corner of Shephard Avenue and Mapes Place in Newark, where Wright shot Shaw in the back of the head while the latter was conversing with two acquaintances on the curb.
After a month-long trial presided over by Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler, the jury returned a guilty verdict.
Assistant Prosecutors Peter Polidoro and Dana Kutzleb led the prosecution.
Following the verdict, they expressed their gratitude to the jurors, stating, "We would like to thank the jurors for their verdict. Justice has been obtained for the victim and his family."
Mahdi Wright now faces up to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for June 24th, 2024.