In the late hours of September 3, 2014, a tragic and violent encounter unfolded on a street in Irvington, New Jersey, culminating in the death of 23-year-old Rhasan Heath. The incident, fueled by romantic rivalry, transpired in the 800 block of Grove Street, forever altering the lives of those involved.
The chain of events began earlier in the day when Marquis Armstrong, 24, of Newark, repeatedly contacted his ex-girlfriend, expressing his anger that she and their young daughter were spending time with Heath. As the night deepened, Armstrong lay in wait. Just before midnight, as Heath and the ex-girlfriend were leaving Heath's sister's home, Armstrong ambushed them. He opened fire as they approached the woman's car.
Heath attempted to flee, running into the street where he was struck by a vehicle. His vulnerability did not deter his attacker. Armstrong then approached the helpless Heath and shot at him five times, striking him three times.
The final, fatal shot was to the base of his skull, a brutal end to the confrontation witnessed by his new girlfriend and her one-year-old child. Rhasan Heath was pronounced dead on September 4, 2014.
The investigation led to the arrest of Marquis Armstrong. During his trial, as the evidence mounted, Armstrong chose to accept a plea agreement on the second day of the proceedings. He pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and unlawful possession of a. 45 caliber handgun. In exchange for his plea, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with the stipulation that he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. If he had been convicted of murder and the weapons charges at trial, he would have faced the possibility of a life sentence.
