Mixed Verdict After Fatal Shooting In West Orange, Suspect Beats Murder Charge

WEST ORANGE, NJ — An Essex County man was convicted of aggravated assault – but acquitted of a murder charge – in connection with a fatal shooting that took place in West Orange nearly four years ago.

A jury convicted Kocou Anani, 26, of Newark, of second-degree aggravated assault and second-degree conspiracy to commit aggravated assault on June 4, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.

Anani was acquitted of first-degree murder, authorities said.

Prosecutors released the following details about the fatal shooting, which took place in 2022:

“On Sept. 27, Anani and four co-conspirators were waiting outside a deli on Watson Avenue when Corington Valentin, 20, of West Orange exited the store. [Anani] initiated a physical altercation with Valentin. The co-conspirators joined the fight, and one of the men shot Valentin twice in the back. [Valentin] was taken to [Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston], where he was later pronounced deceased. During the altercation, Valentin also fired a weapon, striking and wounding [Anani].”

Anani is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20. He faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in state prison, prosecutors said.

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