NJ Appellate Court Upholds 2019 Murder Conviction of Jersey City Man Who Killed Bayonne Resident in 2016

Photo Credit:  NJ Corrections Dept. 

                                                                                                                          MURDER CONVICTION OF JERSEY CITY MAN SERVING 30-YEAR SENTENCE FOR 2016 MURDER OF DAVON GORDON AFFIRMED BY NEW JESREY APPELLATE DIVISION

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez has released the following information:

On August 4, 2021, the New Jersey Appellate Division affirmed the 2019 murder conviction of a Jersey City man who was found guilty of the shooting death of a Bayonne man, 25-year old Davon Gordon.

Darrion K. Trent, age 33, of Jersey City, who is serving a 30-year sentence in New Jersey State Prison, appealed the conviction on various grounds — all of which the court denied.

On Saturday, June 4, 2016, at approximately 2:45 a.m., Jersey City Police Officers were dispatched to West Side and Fairview Avenue in Jersey City on a report of shots fired. Upon arrival, officers found Gordon and a second man, Tyrell Corbin of Jersey City, who had both been shot. Gordon sustained gunshot wounds to his torso and was transported to Jersey City Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at approximately 9:15 a.m. Corbin was also transported to JCMC for a gunshot wound to his lower extremity and was treated and released from the hospital.

The defendant was charged in a 20-count superseding indictment along with four co-defendants, Maurice Miles, Tony Martinez, Kawon Robinson and Katrell Trent. Only Darrion Trent was

charged with murder and the charges against Miles were dismissed by the time of the trial. Martinez, Robinson and Katrell Trent were tried along with Darrion Trent.

Trent was found guilty by a Hudson County Jury in January and February of 2019 of first-degree murder, a lesser-included disorderly persons simple assault, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon. During the course of the trial, the State presented evidence establishing that Davon Gordon suffered from multiple gunshot wounds resulting in his death.

On May 10, 2019, Darrion Trent was sentenced to an aggregate term of 30 years in prison, with 30 years of parole ineligibility subject to the No Early Release Act. His sentence was also subject to the Graves Act.

At the Appellate level, the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Ednin Martinez from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office. At the trial level, the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutors David Feldman and Edward Bilinkas from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Trial Division. The Honorable Patrick J. Arre, J.S.C. presided over the trial and sentencing.

The Appellate Division’s decision can be read in its entirety at:

https://www.njcourts.gov/attorneys/assets/opinions/appellate/unpublished/a4682-18.pdf?c=z8b