More than three years after Brian Schiavetti was shot and killed in a building on William Street in Montclair, Ernest Williams, Jr., a resident of James Street in Montclair, was found guilty on Monday of aggravated manslaughter, robbery and related offenses, the Star Ledger reports.
The incident occurred after Schiavetti and his friend, Connor Gore, made the roughly 90-minute trip from their hometown of Ridgefield, Conn. to purchase oxycodone pills from Williams.
Schiavetti was put in touch with Williams that day through Williams’s co-defendant, James Pitts, who is the son of Essex County Undersheriff James Pitts. Pitts pleaded guilty last year to a drug charge and is expected to be sentenced to 364 days in jail.
Williams’ defense maintained that Williams and Schiavetti had struggled over the gun and that it went off, killing Schiavetti. Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Naazneen Khan said there was no struggle and that Williams robbed Schiavetti and then killed him, according to The Star Ledger.
Schiavetti’s mother, Diane Schiavetti told The Ridgefield Press: “Our family feels that Brian has been vindicated and justice has been served. I appreciate all the love and support from the town of Ridgefield.”
According to The Ridgefield Press, Gore, who had accompanied Schiavetti to Montclairto purchase the drugs, was outside the Williams Street building when he heard two gunshots. When Gore couldn’t reach Schiavetti on his cell phone, he drove off. After calling 911 and learning police had already responded, Gore was picked up by his parents at a Montclair State parking lot.
Pitts met Schiavetti while both were students at Villanova University. Williams will be sentenced on December 14.
Photo: James Fitzhenry
Montclair, NJ and Ridgefield, CT., two towns more typically identified for their apparent gracious suburban living. Parents must be vigil; Rx meds insidious.