Newark -- Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, announced today the Sheedley Pierre, 23, of Orange was sentenced to 47 years for his role in the murder of Jonas Larose, a 55-year old East Orange taxi cab driver.
Police say ok Nov. 30, 2016, Larose was fatally shot and on May 2, 2019, an Essex County jury found Pierre guilty of felony murder, robbery, conspiracy, using a juvenile in a crime, and weapons offenses for his role in the killing of Larose.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Jason Goldberg, who tried the case, Pierre and a 14-year-old juvenile called a cab and when Larose arrived, they got in the cab, pulled a gun on the cab driver and attempted to rob him.
Witnesses said they heard popping sound immediately before the defendants fled on foot.
According to witnesses the two suspects laughed and said they just killed the cab driver but didn't take any money.
Officials say at approximately 11 p.m. police found Larose in his cab suffering from two gunshot wounds to the head.
Yesterday, Pierre was sentenced by the Honorable Ronald D. Wigler. Judge Wigler imposed 40 years for the felony murder and seven years for employing a juvenile in a criminal enterprise.
The defendant must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Officials say the juvenile was sentenced to 10 years in jail.
He is not being identified because he was tried as a juvenile and juvenile records are confidential.
“This was a great man. He brought his family here from Haiti. He was active in the community, active in the church and active in civil affairs. Ironically, the defendant came from the same island in Haiti but he took a different path. His path of violence has ripped apart a family. He has destroyed a family. And he shows no remorse,” said Assistant Prosecutor Goldberg.