New jersey men sentenced for shooting and killing innocent teen outside willingboro high school

New Jersey Men Sentenced for Shooting and Killing Innocent Teen Outside Willingboro High School

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. — Two Pemberton Township men received lengthy prison sentences Friday for the 2021 fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Willingboro High School student outside his home, prosecutors said.

Kavon Carter, 27, was sentenced to 110 years in state prison, while his co-defendant, Sylas Young, 23, received an 80-year term. The sentences were handed down in Burlington County Superior Court by Judge Gerard H. Breland.

Prosecutors said the killing stemmed from a long-running dispute between groups in Pemberton Township and Willingboro’s Buckingham Park section, though the victim, Yahsinn Robinson, was not involved in the conflict. Robinson had just returned home from work on April 22, 2021, when he was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene.

“The loss of Yahsinn’s innocent, young life should never have occurred. It is the epitome of senseless,” Burlington County Prosecutor LaChia L. Bradshaw said.

A jury convicted Carter and Young in December 2024 after a two-month trial. They were found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, gang criminality, and multiple weapons offenses. Carter was also convicted of promoting organized street crime and illegally possessing a firearm.

A Willingboro teen with no ties to gang violence was gunned down outside his home, and now his killers face decades behind bars.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

As the founder of Shore News Network, Stilton oversees editorial operations, investigative reporting, and breaking news coverage while working closely with journalists, public officials, and community leaders. His reporting has covered municipal government, state politics, federal policy, public records investigations, emergency management, and major news events affecting local communities.

Stilton is committed to factual reporting, source verification, transparency, and providing readers with accessible, accurate information that helps them better understand the issues shaping their communities. Through Shore News Network, he continues to focus on delivering trusted news coverage and original reporting to audiences across New Jersey and beyond.

For story tips, corrections, or media inquiries, readers can contact Shore News Network through its official website and social media channels.