The teenager charged in the December 26, 2008 homicide outside of Skate 22 in Union pled guilty in Superior Court yesterday.
Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow announced that Jaquan Bell, 18, pled guilty to manslaughter in the death of Jean D'Haiti.
Nearly 700 people had gathered at Skate 22, a roller rink on Route 22 about two and a half miles from the Springfield border, for a Christmas night party that was heavily promoted on websites like Myspace, said Romankow. The party was scheduled to go from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., but was cut short by numerous fights inside the rink.
According to the investigation, around Midnight a fight between two groups of teenagers escalated, shots were fired and Jean D'Haiti, 16, of Elizabeth was struck and died at the scene at 12:29 a.m.
In an appearance before Union County Superior Court Judge Stuart Peim, Bell acknowledged that while a rival group was chasing him and others, he fired several shots from a handgun in the direction of his pursuers.
The victim died after being struck by a bullet fired from Bell's handgun, said Romankow.
Bell was arrested on March 4, 2009 at his school. He faces 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on October 14, 2011.
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