Newark – Acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced today that Terrell Haywood, 28, of Irvington was found guilty of murdering 23-year-old Kharey Reynolds following a two-week trial before the Honorable Alfonso J. Cifelli, Judge of the Superior Court.
According to Assistant Prosecutor Jacqueline Bilinkas, who tried the case, on March 18, 2014, around 12:30 in the afternoon, Reynolds, a Newark resident, was fatally shot while standing on Isabella Avenue in Newark talking to friends. A masked man, later identified as Haywood, accompanied by a second man, who was never identified, approached the group and started shooting at Reynolds.
Authorities said together they discharged approximately 40 rounds. Reynolds, who was shot nine times, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at University Hospital about 30 minutes later. A 41-year-old man was also shot three times but survived.
On Tuesday, an Essex County jury convicted Haywood of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses authorities said.
Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2018 before Judge Cifelli. Haywood, who has three prior felony convictions for drug offenses in 2008 and 2011, faces life in prison.
“Justice was served in this case. The work of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with the Newark Police Department and the FBI, provided the jury with all the evidence needed to find Terrell Haywood guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Bilinkas. “By holding Terrell Haywood responsible for this brutal murder of Kharey Reynolds, the family received the justice they deserved," authorities said.