A New Jersey gang member has been jailed for life for executing 27-year-old Nigerian man, Rasheed Olabode whom according to the convict, urinated on his street.

Olabode was seen in surveillance footage pleading with his killer, Christopher Poole shortly before he received a bullet to the chest on April 26, 2018.

Poole who ran with the Bloods street gang, was convicted in Superior Court of Essex County of first-degree murder and weapons offenses in Olabode’s slaying. Superior Court Judge, Ronald Wigler, sentenced Poole to 10 years for weapons offense that will run concurrently with the life sentence.

Olabode, who migrated to Newark from Nigeria, was gunned down while his two friends sitting in a car watched, Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Jason Goldberg told the court.

‘The only mistake that appears the victim made was going to relieve himself in front of the wrong person,’ said Goldberg. ‘And that simple, simple act – something that every single person does, every single day – was enough in the eyes of Mr. Poole to execute a man, shoot him in the heart as he prayed and tried talking his way out of it.’

Goldberg shared with the court Olabode’s photography, which captured day to day life of Newark streets. Olabode’s family overseas was unable to come up with the funds to make it to court for the sentencing, Goldberg said.

Poole, whose mugshot showed a tattoo on his neck of a hand giving the middle finger, declined to make a statement when offered the opportunity to speak during sentencing.

Wigler remarked on Poole’s ‘utter lack of remorse’ before handing down his sentence. He said Olabode did not deserve to be ‘executed’ simply for urinating behind a car.

‘This was certainly one of the most – if not the most – senseless murder cases that I have presided over and been involved with,’ Judge Wigler said.


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