Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced that on Friday, July 1, 2022, the Honorable Vincent J. Militello, J.S.C sentenced Kenyowa Pinkney, 29, to 25 years in New Jersey State Prison for the 2020 shooting death of Javone Smith, 23, in Jersey City.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, Kenyowa, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter on Monday, April 25, 2022.
Prosecutor Suarez stated that on Monday, April 6, 2020, just before 6:30 p.m., members of the Jersey City Police Department responded to a shots fired call in the area of Martin Luther King Drive and Myrtle Avenue.
Responding officers found the victim – later identified as Javone Smith, 23, of Jersey City – with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, he was transported to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 6:49 p.m.
The Cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds and the Manner of death was determined to be homicide.
Prosecutor Suarez said that Pinkney was arrested and charged in connection with Smith’s death by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.