Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury convicted Justin Hazel, 25, of East Orange of murder for fatally stabbing Floyd McLean, a 39-year-old East Orange father of three.

The case was tried before the Honorable Thomas M. Moore, J.S.C., over two days. The jury deliberated for 3 and ½ hours before returning the guilty verdict. In addition to the murder charge, Hazel was also found guilty of weapons offenses.

On Nov. 18, 2010, McLean, the former owner of Up Top Clothing, was sitting in a parked car on Webster Place in East Orange trying to sell Hazel’s girlfriend a pair of sneakers when Hazel fatally stabbed the victim in a jealous rage.

“This was a case where the defendant’s anger led to an unfortunate tragedy,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Shaughnessy, who tried the case. “Mr. McLean was a family man and a businessman whose life was ended prematurely in a senseless act of violence.’’

Hazel is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 19 by Judge Moore. He faces a minimum of 30 years in New Jersey State Prison. He is currently at the Essex County Correctional Facility.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office has obtained an arrest warrant charging Justin Hazel, 25, of East Orange with the stabbing murder of Floyd McLean, 39, of East Orange.

Hazel was also charged with two weapons offenses – illegal possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

McLean was fatally stabbed on Nov. 18, 2010. It was originally believed that he was stabbed in East Orange. The investigation revealed McLean was stabbed in Orange at a home after a fight between Hazel and McLean over a mutual acquaintance.

The victim drove away from the scene with the stab wound. He crashed into an occupied vehicle and hit the curb before coming to a final rest at the intersection of Central and South Oration Parkway in East Orange. When police and emergency medical personal arrived on the scene they initially thought McLean had simply been in an automobile accident.

When he was pulled from the car it was determined he had a chest wound that appeared to be unrelated to the motor vehicle accident. The preliminary autopsy concluded he had been fatally stabbed prior to the collision.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office is seeking help from the public locating Hazel. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Orange Police Department or the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office tip line at 1-877-847-7432.

Bail for Hazel was set at $500,000 by the Honorable Peter Vazquez.