Newark man sentenced to 24 years in prison for shooting death
NEWARK — A Newark man was sentenced to 24 years in state prison for the shooting death of Tyquan Johnson, an altercation that all started because of a post made on social media.
Nathaniel Price, 28, was found guilty in a Union County Courthouse on a single count of first-degree aggravated manslaughter and two related weapons offenses. He was sentenced Friday morning by state Superior Court Judge Lisa Miralles Walsh. He will have to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
On Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, the Roselle Police Department responded to a call on the 1000 block of Rivingston Street, where they found Johnson sitting in the driver's seat of a vehicle, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds, according to Union County Assistant Prosecutor Armando Suarez, who went on to prosecute the case. Johnson was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, where he died later that same day, according to Suarez.
READ:Union County man sentenced to prison in stock price scheme
It was later revealed that the shooting followed a prolonged and later physical altercation involving more than half a dozen individuals, sparked by a post made on Facebook in which Price believed insulted a relative of his. Price was later identified as a suspect, and he turned himself into the police three days later. Police found the handgun used in the shooting inside Price's home, and Price's DNA was found on multiple parts of the weapon.
“The utter and complete senselessness of this crime cannot be overstated,” Suarez said. “He [Johnson] had his entire life ahead of him, and it was lost … over mere words.”
READ:Truck in fatal Piscataway crash was banned from River Road, cops say
Johnson's mother, grandmother and cousin all read statements or had statements read into the record during the sentencing. Johnson was described as a hard worker and innocent bystander who was never directly involved in the argument or physical altercation over the Facebook post.
"I don't understand why you took my son away from us," said Johnson's mother, speaking directly to Price. "But I would have taken those bullets for him."
READ:Glen Gardner man charged in stabbing
Price declined to speak when given the chance to him by Walsh.
Although she's a New York native, Editorial Intern Alexandra Antonucci is proud to call New Jersey home, where she gets to write and report on events, food and everything in between throughout the Garden State for the second summer in a row. Contact her at AAntonucci@njpressmedia or follow her on Twitter @alexmarieant.