3 Burlington County Men Plead Guilty In 2021 Shooting Death Of Teen
Sunday, November 3, 2024, 6:15 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
BURLINGTON, NJ.- On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Jayviyohn Early, 22, of Willingboro, New Jersey, Tarik Jenkins, 28, of Pemberton Township, New Jersey, and Kayhree Simmons, 22, of Willingboro, New Jersey, appeared in Burlington County Superior Court and pleaded guilty for the roles in the October 2021 shooting death of a 17-year-old Hammonton, New Jersey boy.
On Tuesday, Early pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Manslaughter. In return for the guilty plea, the Burlington County Prosecutors Office will recommend that Early be sentenced to 18 years in New Jersey State Prison.
In addition, Jenkins and Simmons each pleaded guilty to one count of Aggravated Manslaughter. In return for their guilty pleas, the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office will recommend that both Jenkins and Simmons be sentenced to terms of 15 years in New Jersey State Prison.
All Three Admit Guilt In Fatal Shooting
During their plea allocations on Tuesday, all three defendants admitted in court that they went to the Walmart parking lot located on Route 541 in Burlington Township to participate in a drug transaction on October 7, 2021. During the course of the transaction, the three defendants further admitted to firing handguns, resulting in the death of Albert Williams, 17, of Hammonton, New Jersey. Albert’s father, Dion Williams, was also struck by gunfire but survived the shooting.
After entering their guilty pleas, Superior Court Judge Mark P. Tarantino scheduled Early, Jenkins, and Simmons to be sentenced on January 6, 2025, in Burlington County Superior Court in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Charges remain pending against a co-defendant, Kweli McCants, 23, of Willingboro, New Jersey, as well as a fifth person who pled guilty to hindering the investigation into the fatal shooting.
