Springfield Man Sentenced To 55 Years For Murder Of Essex County Teen

The following is a press release from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that Keevin
David, 20, of Springfield was sentenced to 55 years by the Honorable Peter J. Vazquez, J.S.C., for the murder of 18-year-old Tyrell Coleman of Orange.

On Jan. 25, 2011, Coleman was walking home from school around noon when he was shot multiple times by David in front of his home in Orange. Coleman was pronounced dead at University Hospital a short time later, according to Assistant Prosecutor Portia Downing, who tried the case.

“This case is a painful illustration of what happens when young men have easy access to illegal weapons,” said Assistant Prosecutor Downing. “The defendant senselessly took the life a young man who had a bright future and in the process devastated the Coleman family. We hope this sentence give them some solace.’’

During sentencing, Judge Vazquez noted David had at least eight adult arrests and had repeatedly been accused of weapons offenses as a juvenile.

Assistant Prosecutor Downing commended Det. Phillip Gregory, the led Essex County Prosecutor’s Office investigator, and Orange Police Det. Michael Tingolie, for their work on the case.