New Jersey man pleads guilty to killing 9-year-old girl over 'stupid' Facebook feud

A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter for the 2022 shooting death of 9-year-old Sequoya Bacon-Jones.

Isiah M. Roberts, now 23, admitted in court last Thursday that he opened fire in a Trenton apartment courtyard, fatally striking the fourth-grader as she attempted to run for cover with her brother.

The tragedy, which occurred in front of the victim's mother, was reportedly sparked by a "stupid" Facebook feud involving the gunman’s sister.

According to his attorney, John W. Hartmann, Roberts was summoned to the Kingsbury Twins apartment complex after an online dispute turned into a physical fight involving his family members.

Upon arriving, Roberts retrieved a 9 mm pistol to target a "family nemesis" he believed was armed. Witnesses and family members recounted that Roberts fired an initial two rounds, causing the crowd to scatter, followed by four more shots. It was during this second volley that Sequoya was struck in the chest.

Sequoya’s mother, Sacha Bacon-Jones, gave a harrowing account of the aftermath, describing her daughter moaning and reaching for her on the ground.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Roberts faces a prison sentence of between 15 and 18 years. While the defence argued that Roberts did not intend to harm the child, they acknowledged a "reckless disregard for human life." Roberts is scheduled for formal sentencing in June 2026.