On May 13, 2019, Kenneth Thomas, a 31-year-old Newark resident was gunned down by Ryan Mwangi eight times while sitting in his car, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens, II said. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene, Stephens said.
Mwangi fled the scene in a stolen BMW, but was eventually apprehended, Stephens said.
Mwangi was also convicted of multiple weapons offenses and faces 30 years to life in prison when he is sentenced in March, Stephens said. He has two additional open cases in Essex County, one for attempted murder and weapons offenses and another for simple assault, Stephens said. He was previously convicted of aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.
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