Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Dawan Ingram, 21, of Newark of murdering Najee Montague, 21, also of Newark, following a three-week trial before the Honorable Siobhan Teare, Judge of the Superior Court.
In addition to murder, Ingram was also convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.
Ingram faces a minimum of 30 years in New Jersey state prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 5.
"We are pleased with the jury's just verdict in this case. Mr. Montague was killed in a senseless, cold-blooded attack by this defendant. We hope this verdict brings some level of closure to the victim's family," said Assistant Prosecutor Adam Salzer who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Roger Imhof.
The murder occurred on Sept. 21, 2013 in front of a grocery store located at 1006 South Orange Avenue, near Salem Street. At approximately 7:35 p.m., the victim was in front of the store talking to friends when he was shot seven times, five in the back.
Ingram, who was wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet, fled the scene. At trial, the defense argued that he was home with his family at the time of the murder and presented family members to bolster that claim.
But the state refuted that claim by calling the defendant’s juvenile parole officer who testified that he was not home at the time of the murder. The electronic ankle bracelet cannot be removed and signals if an offender leaves home.