Assalaam Garnes, 30, from Newark, has been found guilty by an Essex County jury for manslaughter in connection to the fatal shooting of his cousin, Shakill Springer, in 2018.
The incident occurred after a verbal altercation between Garnes and Springer outside Springer's Newark home. Garnes was apprehended along with the murder weapon. The jury convicted Garnes of manslaughter, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and additional charges related to possession of the murder weapon on another occasion.
Garnes, with two prior convictions, faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on April 11, 2024. The prosecution emphasized the tragic nature of the case and expressed hope that the verdict would provide justice and closure to the victim's family.