Newark Man Guilty Of Manslaughter, Shot Cousin After Argument

NEWARK, NJ — An Essex County jury convicted a Newark man of manslaughter last week after he fatally shot his cousin in 2018, authorities said.

Assalaam Garnes, 30, of Newark, shot Shakill Springer, 24, also of Newark, outside his home on Sept. 20, 2018 after a verbal argument turned violent, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Garnes was arrested with the murder weapon on Oct. 5, 2018, prosecutors said.

On Thursday, a jury found Garnes guilty of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

He was also found guilty of second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon for possessing the murder weapon on a separate date, prosecutors said.

Garnes is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11. He has two prior convictions and faces up to 20 years in prison, prosecutors said.

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