IRVINGTON, NJ — On Monday, Dec. 4, acting Essex County Prosecutor Robert D. Laurino announced that an Essex County jury convicted Rick King, 33, of Newark, of fatally shooting Amit Patel, 28, of Edison, in 2015, following a two-month trial before Superior Court Judge Mark Ali.
Irvington Public Safety Director Tracy Bowers said King’s conviction brought a successful end to one of the high profile homicides that occurred after Mayor Tony Vauss appointed him as police director in 2014. Vauss and the Irvington Municipal Council decided in 2015 to create the Public Safety Department by combining the police and fire departments.
“Justice has been served in this case,” said Bowers on Monday, Dec. 4, in reference to King’s conviction. “It’s rewarding to know the individual responsible for this horrific crime has been convicted. The criminal justice system has done its job.”
According to Laurino, on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, at approximately 3:36 p.m., King entered Roseway Liquors on Lyons Ave. in Ivington, forced Patel to the floor and fired a single gunshot to his head at close range, killing him instantly. Simple robbery was not the motive for King’s crime, according to Laurino.
“King shot and killed Patel on that day, to prevent him from being an eyewitness and testifying against him, in connection with a previous armed robbery committed by King on Oct. 31, 2013, at the same location and involving the same victim,” said Laurino on Monday, Dec. 4. “Both the robbery and the murder were tried together. Today, a jury convicted King of murder, witness tampering, armed robbery, aggravated assault on a police officer and numerous weapons offenses, in connection with both incidents.”
Despite the murder of Patel, the victim of one of King’s crimes and witness to another, Laurino said statements Patel had made before his death were allowed at trial.
“That evidence, along with video surveillance cameras, show King’s conduct before, during and after the murder,” Laurino said. “The defendant faces life without parole for the murdering of a witness. The defendant has five prior felony convictions for weapons and drug offenses.”
Assistant prosecutors Roger Imhof and Mira Ohm handled King’s trial. Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, before Ali.
“The jurors’ verdict today sends a clear message that retaliation against witnesses will be aggressively prosecuted,” said Imhof on Monday, Dec. 4. “Such conduct will not be tolerated.”
Ohm agreed, saying, “The prosecution would like to commend the jurors for their unwavering focus during this long trial. Their verdict brings some measure of justice to the Patel family.”
Bowers said he hopes Ohm is right. He said King’s successful prosecution marked the end of a case that highlights Irvington’s public safety gains since Vauss became mayor and promised to make the town safer and cleaner.
“Our town is a safer place, with this conviction,” said Bowers. “I hope the conviction brings the victim’s family some resolution.”
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