Newark, New Jersey, Man Convicted of Firearms Offense in Connection with Shooting of 5-Year-Old Girl

NEWARK, N.J. – A Newark man, previously convicted in state court of six felonies, was found guilty in federal court today of being a felon in possession of a handgun, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Jamar Battle, 31, was convicted after a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge William J. Martini in Newark of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The jury deliberated two hours before delivering the guilty verdict.

According to documents filed in this case and the evidence at trial:

On the evening of July 4, 2018, Battle was involved in an argument with his girlfriend and was waiting for her outside of her home. After she arrived near her home, Battle fired six shots at the car she had been riding in as it pulled away. He did not hit his intended target, but did hit a 5-year old girl who had been walking with her father after watching a neighborhood fireworks display. The child survived the shooting but suffered a major injury that required immediate medical attention.

Prior to this shooting, Battle had been convicted of six felonies. In 2015, Battle was sentenced to New Jersey State Prison on two firearms offenses and had just been released from prison in May 2018.

The count on which Battle was convicted is punishable by a maximum of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 21, 2019.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited law enforcement officers of the Newark Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose; special agents of the Department of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John B. Devito; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie; and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens 2^nd, with the investigation leading to today’s guilty verdict.

The government was represented by Senior Trial Counsel Robert Frazer and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Naazneen Khan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office Violent Crimes Unit in Newark.