FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Caitlin Mota
PHONE: (201) 577-6699
EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org
DATE: Tuesday, July 5, 2022

MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR 2020 SHOOTING

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Friday, July 1, 2022, the Honorable Vincent J. Militello, J.S.C sentenced Kenyowa Pinkney, 29, to 25 years in New Jersey State Prison for the 2020 shooting death of Javone Smith, 23, in Jersey City.

Kenyowa, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4a(1) on Monday, April 25, 2022. His sentence is subject to the No Early Release Act and Graves Act.

On Monday, April 6, 2020, just before 6:30 p.m., members of the Jersey City Police Department responded to a shots fired call in the area of Martin Luther King Drive and Myrtle Avenue. Responding officers found the victim – later identified as Javone Smith, 23, of Jersey City – with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. He was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at approximately 6:49 p.m. The Cause of death was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds and the Manner of death was determined to be homicide. Pinkney was arrested and charged in connection with Smith’s death by members of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

The State is represented in this case by Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Adam Salzer.