The act of relieving himself in the street led to the fatal shooting of a Nigerian man by a New Jersey gang member, resulting in a life sentence for the perpetrator.
Christopher Poole, a member of the Bloods gang, was convicted for executing photographer Rasheed “O.J.” Olabode. The victim, 27, was shot in the heart as he pleaded for mercy.
The incident occurred in Newark in April 2018 when Poole confronted Olabode for urinating behind a car. Surveillance footage depicted Olabode begging for his life but Poole proceeded to shoot him.
Describing the victim’s action as a mistake in front of the wrong person, prosecutor Jason Goldberg stated, “And that simple, simple act — something that every single person does, every single day — was enough in the eyes of Mr. Poole to execute a man, shoot him in the heart as he prayed and tried talking his way out of it.”
Already with a lengthy criminal history dating back to his teenage years, Poole displayed no remorse for his actions, as noted by Superior Court Judge Ronald Wigler. “This was certainly one of the most — if not the most — senseless murder cases that I have presided over and been involved with,” the judge commented.
The sentencing on February 4 resulted in Poole receiving a life imprisonment for first-degree murder, along with an additional 10-year sentence for a weapons offense.
Under the state’s No Early Release Act, Poole must serve a minimum of 63 years before being eligible for parole.
At the sentencing, one of Poole’s sisters expressed disbelief, stating, “I know his heart. I know that this isn’t the person that he wanted to become.”
Rasheed “O.J.” Olabode, originally from Nigeria, tragically did not have his family present at the sentencing due to financial constraints.