Crime & Safety

Revenge Killing Could Get Newark Man 17 Years

Andrew Burrows, 25, pleaded guilty Tuesday to aggravated manslaughter.

A Newark man pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter Tuesday for the 2012 shooting death of a city resident who had been involved in a verbal dispute with his cousin.

Andrew Burrows, 25, must serve 85 percent of the recommended sentence of 17 years, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said. He will also be subject to five years probation. Sentencing is scheduled for May 6.

According to the prosecutor's office, Burrows fatally shot Lighten in the 400 block of 17th Street on the night of Aug. 20, 2012. The shooting stemmed from a verbal dispute Lighten was involved in earlier in the day with Burrows' female cousin, the prosecutor's office said.

Lighten told Burrows' cousin to "shut up" and he made physical contact with the woman before the dispute ended with an apology from Lighten, according to the prosecutor's office.

However, a few hours later Burrows came after Lighten and shot him in the chest, the prosecutor's office said.

“This was a very tragic situation where a relatively minor dispute escalated into fatal confrontation," Assistant Prosecutor Allan P. Nawrocki said.

Burrows, who was originally charged with murder and weapons offenses, has one prior conviction for theft in 2010 and nine prior arrests.

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