According to Hudson County officials, on Friday, September 27, Marquise Brown, 25, of Jersey City, was found guilty by a Hudson County Jury on all counts related to the fatal shooting of Amir Pleasant on Dwight Street in Jersey City on April 29, 2017.
Officials say Brown was found guilty of murder, a first-degree crime; Possession of a Weapon (Handgun) for an Unlawful Purpose, a second-degree crime; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Handgun), a second-degree felony; and Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a first-degree crime. He faces 30 years to life in state prison on the murder conviction.
Co-defendant Rashad Exum, 26, of Jersey City, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a first-degree crime. He faces 10 to 20 years in state prison for the conviction and may be extended-term eligible based on prior convictions. Co-defendant, Jahi Beatty, age 21, of Jersey City was found guilty of two counts of Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution.
Officials say on April 29th, Jersey City Police Officers responded to the intersection of Grand Street and Jersey Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle accident.
The responding officers found the driver of the crashed vehicle, Amir Pleasant, 20, of Jersey City, to be unconscious and he was pronounced dead a short while later at Jersey City Medical Center. The Regional Medical
Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds to his head and torso. During the trial, the State presented evidence establishing that while Pleasant was sitting in his car in the area of 22 Dwight Street, Brown walked up to the vehicle and shot Pleasant multiple times.
Pleasant then drove his vehicle to the intersection of Grand Street and Jersey
Avenue, where he was found unconscious in his crashed car.
The state was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Leonardo Rinaldi from the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department investigated the case. The Honorable Sheila Venable, J.S.C. presided over the matter.