Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino today announced that Vincent Trevino, 21, of Newark pleaded guilty to first degree aggravated manslaughter for the death of Nicholas Roldan, 18, of Newark.
On Dec. 6, 2007, Roldan was fatally shot in front of the Chicken Shack on Bloomfield Avenue and Third Street.
According to Assistant Prosecutor William Neafsey, who handled the case, two of the defendant’s friends got into a fistfight with the victim and another man. While the four were fighting, Trevino pulled out a gun and shot multiple times hitting Roldan twice. The victim was shot in the torso and the hip. He died from his injuries. There had apparently been an ongoing dispute between Roldan and Trevino, according to Neafsey.
After the shooting, Trevino fled to Reading, Pa. where he was apprehended by U.S. Marshals at the home of a friend’s grandmother. When marshals searched the home they found the weapon and shell castings, Neafsey said.
“All he had to do was walk away from this. There was no need for him to escalate the violence,’’ said Neafsey. “When tempers flare, you get these needless acts of violence. This started as a fistfight.’’
Trevino entered the guilty plea today before the Honorable Torkwase Sekou, J.S.C. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15th before the same judge.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Trevino faces 15 years in prison. He must serve 85 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for parole. After he is released from prison he must serve five years parole.
