A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for the 2022 death of a 9-year-old girl caught in crossfire from a shooting he initiated. Isiah M. Roberts, then 19, opened fire on a "family nemesis" in an apartment courtyard, striking Sequoya Bacon-Jones as she played with her brother and friends.
According to his attorney, John W. Hartmann, the altercation stemmed from a "stupid" Facebook feud that began earlier the same day. Roberts retrieved a 9mm pistol and confronted the individual outside, believing him to be armed. Hartmann stated Roberts fired multiple rounds, hitting the girl as she tried to flee.
The victim's mother, Sacha Bacon-Jones, described the horrific scene in a past interview, recalling finding her daughter covered in blood. Roberts' attorney insisted there was no intent to harm the child but acknowledged "reckless disregard for human life." As part of a plea deal, Roberts is expected to serve 15 to 18 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for June.