A 19-year-old Atlantic City man was sentenced to 22 years in prison today for the fatal shooting of a Pleasantville man in 2012, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced.
This morning, March 6, 2015, Abubaka Brown, 19, of the 500 block of Tennessee Avenue, Atlantic City, was sentenced by Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Mark Sandson to 22 years in New Jersey State prison for the shooting death on December 5, 2012, of Taron Williams, 19, at the victim’s home in Pleasantville.
Shortly after 11:00 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, Pleasantville police responded to a 9-1-1 call for shots fired on Woodland Avenue.
Upon arrival, police discovered a 13-year-old, Todd Mitchell, of Pleasantville, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in front of 101⁄2 Woodland Avenue. In an alleyway in the rear of the residence, police discovered a resident of the home, Taron Williams, 19, also suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Both victims were transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center—City Division. Both were pronounced dead at the hospital.
A 4-month investigation by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Pleasantville Police Department led to the arrest by Atlantic City Police Department on April 18, 2013 of Abubaka Brown—then 17-years old—for the murder of Taron Williams.
Brown was charged as a juvenile and lodged in the Atlantic County Justice Facility in lieu of $350,000 bail.
On June 28, 2013 Brown was waived up to be tried as an adult by the Prosecutor’s Office in Atlantic County Superior Court.
On October 2, 2013, an Atlantic County Grand Jury returned eight (8) criminal indictments against Brown: murder, 2 counts of felony murder, conspiracy, armed robbery, armed burglary, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon.
On January 23, 2015, Brown pled guilty to 1st degree Aggravated Manslaughter, in accordance with a plea agreement, and was sentenced today.
The State alleges that Abubaka Brown and Todd Mitchell went to Williams’ home armed to commit a home invasion robbery, and that there was a shootout at the doorway that resulted in Williams shooting and killing Mitchell defending himself, and Brown shooting and killing Williams.
Pursuant to the No Early Release Act (NERA), Brown must serve 85% of the prison sentence—or 18 years, 8 months, and 12 days—before becoming eligible for parole.