Three Men Convicted in the 2019 Newark Barbershop Shooting That Killed Barber Sabor Townes, Prosecutor Says

A jury has convicted three men in connection with the 2019 fatal shooting of a barber inside a Newark barbershop, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced. On October 29, 2026, following three days of deliberations, Daezhon Peterson, 25, of Maplewood, and William James IV, 24, of Irvington, were each convicted of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree aggravated assault, and firearms offenses. Watson Delcy, 25, of Hillside, was convicted of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree murder, and third-degree receiving stolen property.

The defendants were convicted of shooting 22-year-old Sabor Townes, of Maplewood. The prosecution proved that on November 19, 2019, James and Peterson fired more than 25 rounds at Townes as he was cutting hair at the Cut Creators Barbershop on Clinton Place in Newark, the Prosecutor's Office said. Townes was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other individuals were struck by gunfire and survived their injuries. A third shooter was never identified. Delcy was identified as the getaway driver of a stolen Toyota Corolla.

The defendants are scheduled for sentencing on January 8, 2027. Each faces a sentence of 30 years to life in New Jersey State Prison, and James and Peterson face additional consecutive sentences of 10 to 20 years for the injuries sustained by the two surviving victims. Following the verdict, Assistant Prosecutor Jacqueline Bilinkas stated in the release that the verdict represents justice for a victim whose life was taken far too soon; Assistant Prosecutor Sean Bradley added that the defendants acted together and that justice has prevailed for Townes, his family, and the community.