Newark Man Murders Brother, Kills Cat For Witnessing: Prosecutor

NEWARK, NJ — A Newark man was found guilty of shooting his brother to death over an argument about money and trying to cover up the crime. He also killed a cat, claiming it was a “witness” to the murder, prosecutors announced Friday.

An Essex County jury convicted Ervwakine Pryor, 41, of Newark, of murder for shooting his brother, Jovan Johnson, 29, also of Newark, after they got into an argument in June 2017. The jury also convicted Pryor of animal cruelty, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The brothers – who were living in the same apartment on the 400-block of Avon Avenue – got into a fight after Pryor accused Johnson of stealing money, prosecutors said.

Pryor shot Johnson, killed his daughter’s cat, then called a friend and asked for a ride to Home Depot. As they were pulling up to the store, Pryor made a surprising revelation, prosecutors said: he’d just killed his brother.

As his friend waited, Pryor went into Home Depot and exited with a reciprocating saw. His “shocked” friend gave Pryor a ride back to his home, then reached out to Johnson’s daughter. She immediately called police, who arrived at the home to find Johnson dead, prosecutors said.

According to authorities, Pryor spent hours trying to dispose of his brother’s body before being taken into custody.

Pryor said he killed the cat because it was a “witness,” prosecutors said.

Prior to the murder, Pryor had 13 felony convictions for various offenses including aggravated assault, drug offenses and weapon charges, prosecutors stated.

Pryor faces 30 years in New Jersey State Prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 22, prosecutors said.

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