FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Raymond Worrall
PHONE: (201) 795-6400 Ext. 6737
EMAIL: rworrall@hcpo.org
DATE: September 29, 2019
JURY FINDS MAN GUILTY OF MURDERING 20-YEAR-OLD JERSEY CITY MAN
Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:
On Friday, September 27, 2019, Marquise Brown, age 25, of Jersey City, was found guilty by a Hudson County Jury on all counts related to the fatal shooting of Amir Pleasant on Dwight Street in Jersey City on April 29, 2017. Brown was found guilty of Murder, a first-degree crime; Possession of a Weapon (Handgun) for an Unlawful Purpose, a second-degree crime; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Handgun), a second-degree crime; and Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a first-degree crime. He faces 30 years to life in state prison on the murder conviction.
Co-defendant Rashad Exum, age 26, of Jersey City, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Murder, a first-degree crime. He faces 10 to 20 years in state prison for the conviction and may be extended-term eligible based on prior convictions. Co-defendant, Jahi Beatty, age 21, of Jersey City was found guilty of two counts of Hindering Apprehension or Prosecution.
On April 29, 2019, Jersey City Police Officers responded to the intersection of Grand Street and Jersey Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle accident. The responding officers found the driver of the crashed vehicle, Amir Pleasant, age 20, of Jersey City, to be unconscious and he was pronounced dead a short while later at Jersey City Medical Center. The Regional Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds to his head and torso.
During the course of the trial the State presented evidence establishing that while Pleasant was sitting in his car in the area of 22 Dwight Street, Brown walked up to the car and shot Pleasant multiple times. Pleasant then drove his vehicle to the intersection of Grand Street and Jersey Avenue where he was found unconscious in his crashed vehicle.
The state was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Leonardo Rinaldi from the Office of the Hudson County Prosecutor.
The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department investigated the case.
The Honorable Sheila Venable, J.S.C. presided over the matter.