Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced that Rayquan Tubbs, 20, of Irvington entered a guilty plea today to first degree aggravated manslaughter and second degree possession of a handgun before the Honorable Martin G. Cronin, Judge of the Superior Court.
According Assistant Prosecutor Adam B. Wells, who handled the case with Assistant Prosecutor Amani Abdellah, Tubbs drew a handgun and fatally shot the victim, Angelo Lorenzi, 33, of Newark, without provocation during the early morning hours of Oct. 9, 2015 in Newark outside a lounge on South Orange Avenue.
Today, Tubbs admitted to shooting Lorenzi. In exchange, the state will recommend a 25-year sentence. Tubbs is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2017.
Tubbs has a prior conviction for burglary. He was on probation at the time of the fatal shooting.
Tubbs is being held in New Jersey State Prison on a violation of probation.
Tubbs’ brother, Khalil Thomas, 22, of Newark also entered a guilty plea today to one count of second degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He was with his brother but was not involved in the fatal shooting.
Thomas is facing seven years in state prison with a 42-month period of parole ineligibility when he is sentenced on Jan. 17, 2017.