NORTH BERGEN, NJ – A North Jersey man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter for a murder he committed in New York three years ago.
According to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II, Jayden Rodriguez, 19, of North Bergen, New Jersey was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to Manslaughter in the First Degree from May of this year. The Honorable Kevin F. Russo sentenced Rodriguez to 19 years in State Prison to be followed by a period of 5 years post-release supervision.
“On or about September 1, 2019, Jayden Rodriguez, entered a Spring Valley apartment building and proceeded to fire numerous shots at an individual identified as Emerson Jean-Baptiste, ultimately causing his death. Rodriguez was arrested the following day by the Village of Spring Valley Police Department with the assistance of the City of North Bergen Police Department,” prosecutors said. “The firearm used in the course of this crime was recovered in an unrelated matter several days later by the Haverstraw Police Department.”
District Attorney Tom Walsh said, “The defendant’s actions on that day ended the life of one man and forever changed the lives of his family and loved ones. Mr. Rodriguez is being held accountable for committing this senseless act of violence and will be serving a lengthy prison term as punishment.
I would like to commend the Spring Valley Police Department, City of North Bergen Police Department, and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office who worked closely with my office during the prosecution to bring justice to the family of Emerson Jean-Baptiste. “
Rodriguez, who was 17 years old at the time of his crime, was eligible for designation as a Youthful Offender at the time of his sentencing, which would have resulted in a much shorter period of incarceration. Based upon the nature of the offense, the Court declined to grant such designation and sentenced Rodriguez as an adult.