Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Kevin Lloyd, 44, of Newark was sentenced to life in prison without parole by the Honorable Alfonse Cifelli, J.S.C., after an Essex County jury found him guilty of attempted murder and weapons charges.

Lloyd was convicted of attempting to murder Terrell Smith, 23, of Newark as Smith exited a pizzeria at 125 Avon Avenue in Newark. Smith was shot in the back. The shooter was captured on surveillance video. In addition, crime scene officers recovered a shirt with DNA from the defendant. Testimony at trial indicated the shooter removed his shirt after the shooting.

Former Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Ruzich tried the case last year. Lloyd was found guilty of attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Sentencing was delayed because the defendant tried to have his conviction set aside.

Today, Judge Cifelli sentenced Lloyd to life in prison. Assistant Prosecutor Brian Pollock successfully argued Lloyd was not entitled to a new trial. Pollock also handled the sentencing, noting a mandatory life sentence was required under the Three Strikes Law because Lloyd has two prior first degree robbery convictions.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today an Essex County jury has convicted Kevin Lloyd, 42, of Newark of attempted murder, aggravated assault and two weapons offenses.

“With an appalling disregard for the lives of others, Kevin Lloyd repeatedly fired a large-caliber handgun in a crowded parking lot full of women and young children. Today’s verdict ensures that he will be held accountable for putting so many lives in danger,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Ruzich who tried the case.

On Aug. 8, 2009 at approximately 7 p.m. Lloyd fired seven rounds of ammunition in a supermarket parking lot on the corner of Avon Avenue and Irvine Turner Boulevard in Newark, striking Kyle Evans, 19, of Newark once. Evans survived his injuries.

Yesterday, following a two-week trial a jury found Lloyd guilty of attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. The jury deliberated for a day before reaching a verdict.

The Honorable Alfonse J. Cifelli, Judge of the Superior Court, who presided over the trial, immediately revoked Lloyd bail. He is currently being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility. When Lloyd is sentenced in September he faces up to life in prison.

Lloyd has two prior convictions. One for armed robbery and another for theft by deception. He was on probation for the 2007 theft by deception conviction when he attempted to kill Evans.