A Clifton New Jersey man pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter charges stemming from a fatal shooting outside a liquor store last year.

The shooting took place on October 15, 2015. The victim, a 21-year-old Clifton resident, was in the process of helping his friend close Lexington Liquors for the night when the suspect reportedly pulled up in a motor vehicle. Three other people allegedly got out of the car and confronted the victim, who had gotten into a dispute with the men earlier that day. One of the suspects allegedly took out a 9mm handgun and used it to fire several gunshots in the direction of the victim. The victim later died due to gunshot wounds sustained in the attack.

The suspect who drove the other men to the scene of the homicide is a 20-year-old Clifton resident. He was originally charged with first degree murder, but he later reached a plea agreement with Passaic County NJ prosecutors and pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aggravated manslaughter.

If the suspect had fought the murder charges and been convicted at trial, he would have been subject to a punishment of life imprisonment, with a minimum term of incarceration of 30 years in NJ State Prison.

The man accused of actually firing the gun that killed the victim already pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 16 years in New Jersey State Prison.

For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man, 20, Gets 10 Years in Slaying of Man Outside Liquor Store.”