Seton Hall Party Killing Gets East Orange Man Life Sentence

An East Orange man was sentenced Friday to life in prison for the killing of a Seton Hall University student at an off-campus party in 2010.

Nicholas Welch, 29, received a life sentence for killing Jessica A. Moore, a 19-year-old sophomore from Pennsylvania, and was sentenced to 20 more years for the attempted murder of four other students.

A jury convicted Welch in March following an 18-day trial for the killing of Moore and the attempted murder of Yvan Christophe, Nakeisha Vanterpool, Nicosia Henry and Daryl Elmore, who were all wounded by survived the attack.

Welch opened fire on Sept. 25, 2010 into a packed off-campus party after members of a fraternity denied him access to the house, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said.

Welch, who lived on the same block, said he ran the block and would not be denied from entering a party, the prosecutor's office said.

Welch must serve 89 years before becoming eligible for parole. He has 28 arrests, including 10 as a juvenile, and one prior felony conviction as an adult.

A second defendant, Marcus Bacus, is awaiting trial.