Crime & Safety
Newark Man Killed His Friend After Argument, Found Guilty
After getting into an argument, the man went to his apartment, returned with a gun and shot his friend in the neck, prosecutors said.
NEWARK, NJ — A Newark man has been convicted of murder after he shot his friend to death last year, prosecutors announced Wednesday.
According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, a jury found William Whitfield, 46, guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Keni Johnson, 45, of Newark.
Prosecutors released the following details about the fatal shooting:
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Whitfield and Johnson had been arguing inside the Bradley Court Housing Complex in Newark on February 11, 2023. Following the argument Whitfield went to his apartment, obtained a gun and returned to shoot Johnson. Whitfield shot Johnson in the back of the neck, ultimately killing him.”
The trial lasted about two weeks; jury deliberation began on Nov. 12 and ended Nov. 14.
In addition to the murder charge, Whitfield was also convicted of weapons charges. He faces a potential sentence of 30 years to life in New Jersey state prison, and must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act, prosecutors said.
Find out what's happening in Newarkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2025.
Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
