Woman, 18, pleads not guilty to shooting death of new graduate

NEWARK, N.J. - The 18-year-old woman accused of fatally shooting an 18-year-old neighbor who had just graduated from high school pleaded not guilty yesterday in a case the judge termed "one of the saddest" he's encountered.

Nicole Guyette was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses in the death of Sujeiti Ocasio and the wounding of a 15-year-old girl who was struck by the bullet that killed Ocasio.

The shooting occurred early last Friday in front of Ocasio's house, where her family was celebrating her hours-earlier graduation from Barringer High School.

The slightly built Guyette, clad in a dark- green prison jumpsuit, stood with her head down during most of yesterday's 10-minute arraignment and quietly answered "Yes, Sir," to state Superior Court Judge Donald J. Volkert Jr.'s questions.

Guyette appeared to be fighting back tears as she looked over toward the gallery at friends and family.

Ocasio's mother lashed out at Guyette as she left the court, saying in Spanish, "You'll be in jail the rest of your life, you [expletive]."

The judge, who said he rarely voices his opinions at arraignments, broke precedent during the arraignment.

"I find the circumstances in this particular case to be among the saddest I've ever dealt with in 20 years on the bench," Volkert said. "It is profoundly sad."

He continued Guyette's bail at $500,000. The teen fled after the shooting but turned herself in last Saturday night.

Authorities have said the two teens had a dispute that extended further back than the day of the shooting, but they declined to release more details. Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow said investigators have not found the handgun used in the shooting, and she did not say how or where Guyette had obtained the weapon.

Dow called the tragedy "a horrific day for Newark, and for graduating children across the nation." The slaying occurred less than six weeks before the one-year anniversary of the execution-style slayings of three college-bound friends that shone a spotlight on gun violence in the city.

Ocasio's family members did not speak with reporters as they left Essex County Superior Court. Among them was Jasmine Perez, 15, who suffered a bullet graze wound to her chest during the shooting. *