Eliz. man admits role in fatal shooting

ELIZABETH — An Elizabeth man has admitted to being responsible for a fatal shooting that occurred in the city a little more than three years ago, acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park announced Oct. 31.

Appearing before state Superior Court Judge Joseph P. Donohue, Larry Mays, 27, pleaded guilty to a single count of aggravated manslaughter in connection with the death of 19-year-old Abdul Hinton.

It was approximately 11:45 p.m. on August 14, 2011 when Mays, Hinton, and several others were standing outside the front entrance to a housing unit in the Oakwood Plaza housing complex on the 200 block of Parker Road in Elizabeth, according to Union County Homicide Task Force Supervisor Michael Henn.

At that time, several unidentified males approached and opened fire on the group, Henn said.

As the members of the group ran in various directions, Mays produced a .45-caliber handgun. Mays then also started to run away, and as he did so, he started firing the handgun over his shoulder. One of the bullets struck Hinton, who died from his injuries the following day.

Mays was charged with the killing in October 2011. Mays is expected to face a term of 15 years in state prison when he is sentenced Dec. 12.