Jury Finds Newark Man Guilty Of Manslaughter & Weapons Offenses After Gunfire Meant For Others Killed An Innocent Bystander On A City Street

Sunday, March 15, 2026, 8:45 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

NEWARK, NJ.- A Newark man has been convicted in connection with a 2023 shooting that claimed the life of an innocent bystander and injured another individual, following a 10-day trial in Superior Court, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced.

     A jury found Altaariq Palmer, 28, of Newark, New Jersey, guilty of second-degree Passion/Provocation Manslaughter, third-degree Aggravated Assault, and related weapons offenses in the fatal shooting of Latoya Miller-Kone, 41, also of Newark, New Jersey.

     The verdict was returned on Monday, March 9, 2026, following a trial presided over by the Honorable Kevin Barry, J.S.C., in Essex County Superior Court. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutors Daniel Nicholas and Shelby Day.

Shooting Followed Earlier Altercation;

     According to testimony presented during the trial, the incident occurred on the evening of May 22, 2023, when Police Officers with the Newark Police Division responded to reports of gunfire on the 900 block of 18th Avenue in Newark.

     When police arrived, they discovered Ms. Miller-Kone lying on the sidewalk with a single gunshot wound to the head. She was rushed to University Hospital in Newark, where she was later pronounced dead.

     Investigators determined that Ms. Miller-Kone had no involvement in the conflict that led to the shooting, and prosecutors described her as an innocent bystander who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Surveillance Video Key Evidence;

     Evidence presented at trial included surveillance footage capturing a physical altercation involving Palmer and several individuals approximately 35 minutes before the shooting.

     Additional footage later showed Palmer returning to the area wearing a mask, according to prosecutors.

     At that point, Palmer fired approximately 14 rounds in the direction of the individuals involved in the earlier dispute, prosecutors said. One of those rounds struck Ms. Miller-Kone, killing her. Another individual at the scene was also wounded during the gunfire.

     Video evidence further captured Palmer fleeing the scene on foot following the shooting, a detail that prosecutors argued demonstrated his involvement in the crime.

Sentencing Scheduled;

     Palmer now faces significant prison time when he returns to court for sentencing.

     Judge Barry scheduled sentencing for April 24, 2026, in Superior Court.

     Under New Jersey law, second-degree passion/provocation manslaughter carries a potential sentence of five to ten years in state prison. However, additional penalties may apply depending on the weapons convictions and other factors considered by the court.

Community Impact;

     The case underscored the devastating consequences of gun violence in densely populated neighborhoods, where stray gunfire can quickly turn a dispute into a tragedy for innocent residents.

     Prosecutors emphasized during the trial that Ms. Miller-Kone had no connection to the altercation that preceded the shooting, highlighting the senseless nature of the crime.

Editor’s Note:

This report was written by Art Fletche, Executive Editor, and is based on official information released by the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and evidence presented during trial proceedings in New Jersey Superior Court. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Altaariq Palmer was convicted by a jury on March 9, 2026, and remains scheduled for sentencing on April 24, 2026. Englebrook Independent News will continue to monitor the case and report further developments as they become available.