FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Caitlin Mota

PHONE: (201) 577-6699

EMAIL: cmota@hcpo.org

DATE: Tuesday, April 26, 2022

MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN FATAL SHOOTING OF 23-YEAR-OLD JERSEY CITY MAN

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On Monday, April 25, 2022, Kenyowa Pinkney, 29, of Jersey City, pleaded guilty in connection with the 2020 shooting death of Javone Smith, 23, in Jersey City.

Pinkney pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Manslaughter in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-4a(1). The State will be recommending a sentence of 25 years in New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act and Graves Act. Sentencing is scheduled before the Honorable Vincent J. Militello, J.S.C. on Friday, June 17, 2022.

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.