East Orange Man Convicted of Fatal Shooting at Seton Hall Off-Campus Party

The East Orange man on trial for the 2010 fatal shooting of a Seton Hall University student when he opened fire into a crowded off-campus party was convicted Monday of all but one of the charges.

Nicholas Welch, 28, was found guilty of killing 19-year-old Jessica Moore, a sophomore honors student from Virginia. Welch was also convicted on four counts of attempted murder for wounding Yvan Christophe, Nakeisha Vanterpool, Nicosia Henry and Daryl Elmore in the attack.

The jury of seven women and five men also convicted Welch of conspiracy, burglary, felony murder and weapons charges. Welch was acquitted of hindering apprehension.

"We are very satisfied with this verdict. We believe justice has been served and hopefully Jessica Moore’s family can achieve a degree of closure with this verdict today," said Assistant Prosecutor Romesh Sukhdeo, who tried the case with Assistant Prosecutor Jamel Semper.

Welch faces 30 years to life on the murder charge and 10 to 20 years on the attempted murder counts.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 30 at 1:30 p.m.  Judge Robert H. Gardner revoked Welch's $2 million bail upon the jury's verdict on Monday.

Welch, who lived in the 500 block of South Clinton Street in East Orange where the off-campus party was being held, was angered when he was thrown out of the private party by members of a fraternity, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

Welch returned to the party with a gun and opened fire on the party filled with about 100 Seton Hall students.

Moore was fatally shot in the head and four others were wounded but survived the attack.

Moore, who lived in several places because her parents were in the military, was a star athlete at Upper Merion Area High School in King of Prussia, Pa.

Marcus Bascus, 23, of East Orange, also faces murder charges for providing Welch the gun, the prosecutor's office said. Bascus is awaiting trial later this year.