Story by Reporter Eloize
Christopher Poole, 26, of Newark was sentenced to life in prison for murdering Rasheed “O.J.” Olabode, 27, an amateaur photographer and recent Nigerian immigrant.
Olabode and two friends were running errands on April 26, 2018, in and around Newark. When Olabode needed to use the restroom but saw none nearby, he urinated in the street behind his car in the 700 black of South 20th Street.
Poole, who resided on the block, became incensed at Olabode urinating and then retrieved a gun. Poole, not realizing Olabode’s friends were in the vehicle a short distance away watching, shot Olabode in the chest while he begged for his life. Afterwards, Olabode ran to the car where his friends waited and they then flagged down a police officer.
The police officer called an ambulance and Olabode was pronounced dead at the hospital.
“The victim’s only mistake was urinating on the defendant’s block…The senselessness and brutality displayed by Mr. Poole is hard to imagine,’’ said Assistant Prosecutor Jason Goldberg, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Michael Burkemurder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlwaful purpose. Poole, who also had four prior felony convictions, was sentenced to life in prison. Under the No Early Release Act, Poole must serve 63 years before he is eligible for parole.
“There is nothing we can do to bring back Rasheed, but we hope that, with this sentencing, his family and loved ones will sleep a little easier,” said Assistant Prosecutor Burke.
