Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that the Honorable Michael L. Ravin, J.S.C., sentenced Shahid Baskerville, 21, of Morristown to 30 years in New Jersey state prison for his role in the 2007 schoolyard robbery and triple murder of three Delaware State University students.

Terrance Aeriel, 18, Dashon Harvey and Iofemi Hightower, both 20, were murdered. Natasha Aeriel, 24, was shot and attacked with a machete but survived.

Assistant Prosecutor Thomas McTigue, who has handled the prosecution of all six defendants, along with Assistant Prosecutor Romesh Sukhdeo, said, “We believe a 30-year sentence is appropriate in this case because Shahid Baskerville admitted his guilt and took responsibility for his conduct.’’

Assistant Prosecutor Sukhdeo said the final defendant Gerardo Gomez will be sentenced on Jan. 9, 2013 at 9:30 a.m.

“We wanted both defendants to be sentenced today, so the families could go into the New Year with this behind them but the defense attorney for Mr. Gomez asked for additional time,’’ said Sukhdeo.

On the night of August 4, 2007, Baskerville, then 15 years old, joined five men and boys in the Mount Vernon Elementary School playground in the Ivy Hill section of Newark where they surrounded, robbed and shot four friends who were hanging out in the school yard listening to music. Three of the victims—Harvey, Hightower and Terrance Aeriel—were taken to a separate part of the school yard where they each were fatally shot and where Hightower was also brutalized with a machete. Natasha Aeriel was attacked with a machete and shot in the head during the incident, but survived.

Baskerville, who grew up in Newark, but moved to Morristown, pleaded guilty on December 23, 2011 to robbery and sexual assault charges.

Today, Judge Ravin sentenced Baskerville to 30 years for robbery and aggravated criminal sexual contact. Under the No Early Release Act, Baskerville must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. He will also be under lifetime parole supervision when he is released from prison.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Shahid Baskerville, 20, of Morristown pleaded guilty to four counts of robbery, one count of conspiracy and one count of aggravated criminal sexual contact in connection with the Aug. 4, 2007 triple murder of three college students at the Mount Vernon School in Newark.

Under the terms of the plea agreement Baskerville faces 30 years in state prison when he is sentenced. Sentencing has been tentatively scheduled for March 8, 2012. Baskerville must serve 85 percent of his sentence or 25 years and six months before he is eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act. He will also be subject to lifetime supervision under Megan’s Law when he is released from prison.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss three counts of murder, three counts of felony murder and one county of attempted murder.

Appearing before the Honorable Michael L. Ravin, J.S.C., Baskerville described in detail his role that night. Iofemi Hightower, Dashon Harvey, both 20, and Terrence Aeriel, 18, all Delaware State students from Newark, were robbed and killed behind the Mount Vernon school playground. A third victim, Natasha Aeriel, was shot and attacked with a machete but survived.

Previously, defendants Rodolfo Godinez, 28, and his younger brother, Alexander Alfaro, 21, were found guilty at separate trials. A third defendant, Melvin Jovel, 22, of Elizabeth pleaded guilty. Jury selection was just completed in the case of defendant Jose Carranza, 32, of Newark. He is scheduled to go to trial in Jan. 10. A sixth defendant Gerardo Gomez, 19, of Newark is still awaiting trial. Assistant Prosecutors Thomas McTigue and Romesh Sukhdeo are handling all of the school yard cases.