NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A man authorities said was apparently angry about a Facebook post has been convicted in the 2016 slayings of three people, two of them children, in New Jersey’s largest city, prosecutors said.
Jurors convicted 31-year-old Jeremy Arrington late Friday of three counts of murder and attempted murder as well as burglary, criminal restraint and weapons charges, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens II said.
Prosecutors said Arrington entered a Newark home in November 2016, tied up people inside and stabbed them with kitchen knives, killing 8-year-old Aerial Little Whitehurst and 11-year-old Al-Jahon Whitehurst, then shot and killed 23-year-old college student Syasia McBurroughs, who was visiting the family.
A 29-year-old woman, a 13-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were wounded. Prosecutors said a young girl with autism was able to escape and called for help from a closet, allowing police to respond before more lives were lost.
Authorities said Arrington was apparently angry that one of the victims had reposted a Facebook alert from police naming him as a suspect in an earlier shooting and sexual assault. Prosecutors said he faces multiple life terms when he is sentenced April 8.
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“We are forever grateful to the courageous survivors and witnesses who testified as well as the investigative personnel who helped bring this defendant to justice. Hopefully this verdict will bring some form of justice to all of the families and friends affected by this defendant’s horrific actions,” Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Edwab said.
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