Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that Cory Robinson, 26, of Newark pled guilty to aggravated manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Edwin Gibson, 32, of East Orange.
Under the terms of the plea agreement Robinson must serve 18 years before he is eligible for parole. After parole, he must remain on parole supervision for five more years, according to Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab who was preparing to begin jury selection in the case when Robinson decided to plea.
On Sept. 5, 2014 Gibson was shot and killed outside of his Rhode Island Avenue home during an attempted robbery.
“This was truly a senseless act of violence because the victim did not have any money or items of value on him at the time,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Edwab. “The defendant already had a cellphone and wallet that belong to a woman Gibson was talking to at the time but Gibson had nothing.’’
Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 15 before the Honorable James Donohue, Judge of the Superior Court. Judge Donohue took the plea today.
In addition to the homicide, Robinson also pled guilty to a weapons offense. The gun used in the fatal shooting was a ballistic match when he was arrested on Sept. 10, 2014 and charged with unlawful possession of a gun.
