Man convicted of murder for shooting at Newark housing complex

A Newark man has been convicted of murder in the shooting death of another city resident last year, prosecutors said Wednesday.
William Whitfield, 46, was found guilty of first-degree murder following a two-week jury trial in the killing of 45-year-old Keni Johnson, according to Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II.
Johnson was found by police shortly before 9 a.m. on Feb. 11, 2023, in the hallway of an apartment building in Newark’s Bradley Court Housing Complex. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prosecutors said Whitfield and Johnson had at argument at the complex. After the dispute, Whitfield retrieved a gun from his apartment and shot Johnson in the back of the neck, killing him.
The jury deliberated for three days before reaching the verdict on Nov. 14, Stephens said.
Whitfield, who was also convicted of weapons charges, faces 30 years to life in prison at his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 24 before Superior Court Judge Arthur Batista.
Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Whitfield must serve at least 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
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Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.