TRENTON – The last of three men connected to the slaying of a city teenager four years ago was sentenced to prison this week.
Dyquise Leonard was given a 12-year prison sentence Friday in accordance with a deal that allowed him to plead guilty to attempted murder.
He was arrested with two other men, Alton Jones and Marquis Skillman, for the 2013 killing of 19-year-old Rayshawn Ransom. The teen was shot while sitting in his car on Passaic Street and was not the intended target of the shooting, Mercer County prosecutors have said.
They have also said that the shooting was a result of a feud between groups from West State Street and Passaic Street. All three men fired shots but only Jones hit Ransom, according to authorities.
Leonard’s sentencing was rife with emotion Friday as members of his family approached the podium to speak about their son.
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“I would like to have justice done today in regards to my son’s life,” Ransom’s father said to the judge.
“I cannot hug my son, I cannot hold my son,” he added, voice rising as he spoke. “Nobody can bring my son back.”
Leonard also spoke Friday and tried to explain to Ransom’s family that he didn’t kill anyone.
He was quickly cut off by Ransom’s father who yelled from the seats, “my son is gone.”
“I had nothing to do with that. … I still feel remorse for him,” Leonard responded.
Leonard, who has 12 prior convictions, will have to spend just over 10 years in jail before he is eligible for parole.
Jones and Skillman have already been sentenced; Skillman received 11 years in prison while Jones, who carried out a second shooting two days after killing Ransom, was sentenced to 38 years.
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman
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