Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has announced that on Monday, April 25, Kenyowa Pinkney, 29, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty in connection with the 2020 shooting death of Javone Smith, 23, in Jersey City.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, Pinkney pleaded guilty to Aggravated Manslaughter.
The state will be recommending a sentence of 25 years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act and Graves Act.
Prosecutor Suarez said that on Monday, April 6, 2020, just before 6:30 p.m., members of the Jersey City Police Department responded to a shots fired call in the area of Martin Luther King Drive and Myrtle Avenue.
According to Prosecutor Suarez, responding officers found the victim – later identified as Javone Smith, 23, of Jersey City – with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body.
Prosecutor Suarez said that he was transported to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 6:49 p.m.
The Cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds, and the Manner of death was determined to be homicide.
Pinkney was arrested and charged in connection with Smith’s death by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.