A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for the 2022 death of a 9-year-old girl, who was struck by gunfire during a feud that began on Facebook.
Isiah M. Roberts, who was 19 at the time, admitted to opening fire on a "family nemesis" in an apartment courtyard. Sequoya Bacon-Jones was playing outside with her brother and friends when she was hit as she tried to run away.
Roberts' attorney stated the shooting stemmed from a "stupid" Facebook beef that started earlier that same day. He claimed Roberts did not intend to harm the girl but showed reckless disregard for human life.
The victim's mother, Sacha Bacon-Jones, described finding her daughter "laying on the ground covered in blood." She recalled, "She's reaching for me and I'm like I can't believe what I'm looking at."
As part of a plea deal, Roberts is expected to be sentenced to between 15 and 18 years in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June.