NJ man, 20, admits to fatal shooting outside lounge, prosecutors say

NEWARK — A 20-year-old Irvington man admitted Monday that he fatally shot a 33-year-old Newark man last October, without provocation.

Rayquan Tubbs pleaded guilty to first degree aggravated manslaughter as well as a second degree charge of possession of a handgun, Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray said in a statement.

Prosecutors say that during the early morning hours of Oct. 9, 2015, Tubbs pulled out a handgun and fatally shot Angelo Lorenzi "without provocation" outside a lounge on South Orange Avenue in Newark. According to NJ.com, the shooting took place in the midst of an argument pertaining to drugs.

As part of a plea deal, the state is recommending a 25-year state prison sentence for Tubbs, who has a prior burglary conviction and was out on probation at the time of the deadly shooting, authorities say.

Tubbs is being held in a state prison for probation violation and is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 17.

According to the prosecutor's office, Tubbs' brother, Khalil Thomas, 22, of Newark also appeared in court Monday, where he pleaded guilty to a second degree charge of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Authorities say although he was with his brother last October when the incident took place, he was not involved in the fatal shooting.His sentencing is also scheduled for Jan. 17 and he is facing a seven-year state prison sentence. he will not be eligible for parole for 42 months, the prosecutor's office said.

Toniann Antonelli is a social content producer for NJ 101.5. She can be reached at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.