Two Newark Residents Sentenced To 50 Years Each In 2023 Vigilante Killing Of Teen During Robbery Spree

Sunday, March 1, 2026, 7:45 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

NEWARK, NJ.- Two Newark, New Jersey, residents convicted in what prosecutors described as a “vigilante” killing of a 17-year-old during a 2023 robbery spree have each been sentenced to 50 years in New Jersey State Prison, according to Theodore N. Stephens II.

     The sentences were imposed by Arthur Batista, J.S.C., who presided over both the trial and the sentencing proceedings.

     On June 25, 2025, a jury found 51-year-old Felicia Bynum and 33-year-old James Headen, both of Newark, guilty of first-degree Murder, first-degree Conspiracy to Commit Murder, second-degree Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Assault, and second-degree Weapons Offenses.

The August 17, 2023, Shooting;

     Prosecutors established at trial that on August 17, 2023, Bynum and Headen opened fire on a stolen white 2022 Lexus SUV that had been involved in a string of robberies, a vehicle crash, and a separate shootout earlier that day in Newark.

     According to testimony and surveillance evidence presented during the trial, the defendants witnessed the occupants of the SUV commit multiple robberies and then pursued the vehicle through Newark’s South Ward. Video footage captured the SUV traveling through residential streets, with the defendants following before ultimately firing at the vehicle.

     Inside the SUV were three individuals. One of them, 17-year-old Kiman Mays of Newark, was fatally shot. Authorities said Mays was struck during the barrage of gunfire and later pronounced dead.

     The driver of the vehicle, 29-year-old Lonnell Carruthers of Irvington, sustained injuries but survived the shooting. Court records indicate Carruthers was treated for his injuries following the incident.

     Prosecutors characterized the shooting as an act of unlawful vigilantism, arguing that while the SUV’s occupants had allegedly engaged in criminal conduct, Bynum and Headen had no legal authority to pursue or use deadly force against them.

The Sentences;

     Judge Batista sentenced James Headen to 40 years in state prison for the murder of Kiman Mays. That term is to run consecutive to a 10-year sentence for the shooting of Lonnell Carruthers, resulting in a total aggregate sentence of 50 years.

     Felicia Bynum received an identical sentence: 40 years for murder, consecutive to 10 years for the shooting of Carruthers, for a total of 50 years behind bars.

     Under New Jersey law, first-degree murder carries significant mandatory sentencing provisions, and consecutive sentencing in cases involving multiple victims substantially increases overall prison exposure.

     In a statement following sentencing, Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab emphasized the broader implications of the case.

     “While nothing can bring back the life that was taken, we hope these 50-year sentences bring some measure of comfort to the family. We also hope these lengthy sentences send a clear message that vigilante justice will not be tolerated and will be met with serious consequences,” Edwab said.  

A Message From Prosecutors;

     Prosecutor Stephens’ office underscored that even when individuals witness criminal activity, the law does not permit private citizens to take matters into their own hands with lethal force.

     Law enforcement officials reiterated that suspected criminal activity should be reported to police rather than confronted through violence.

     Anyone with information regarding criminal activity in Essex County is urged to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC (1-877-847-7432). All calls remain confidential.

Editor’s Note:

This article was written by Art Fletcher, Executive Editor, and is based on official statements released by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and information presented during court proceedings before the Honorable Arthur Batista, J.S.C. All defendants referenced were afforded due process under New Jersey law. Englebrook Independent News does not condone vigilante violence and reports court outcomes as a matter of public record.