An Essex County man has been arrested and charged with second-degree reckless manslaughter following an incident that took place in Elizabeth earlier this week, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Friday.
Douglass Byrd, 27, is charged in connection with the death of 65-year-old Larry Adams of Elizabeth.
Shortly after noon on Tuesday, March 7, Elizabeth Police Department and Union County Homicide Task Force personnel traveled to the 1100 block of Magnolia Avenue in Elizabeth to find Adams at that location, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Armando Suarez, who is prosecuting the case.
Adams was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m. Tuesday.
An investigation involving the Homicide Task Force, Prosecutor’s Office’s High Tech Unit, Elizabeth Police Department, and Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit revealed that following an exchange of words, Byrd struck Adams with his fist, causing serious head injuries that ultimately resulted in his death.
Byrd was arrested without incident Thursday evening and is being held in Union County Jail pending a first appearance.
Anyone with information about this matter still is being urged to contact Homicide Task Force Sgt. Michael Manochio at 908-966-2287 or Detective Christopher Scuorzo at 908-472-0492.
Convictions on second-degree charges are commonly punishable by 5 to 10 years in state prison.