Amber Brooks was sentenced in the 2013 fatal shooting of Michael Brown on a Newark street
NEWARK -- About three months after she turned 18, Amber Brooks was arguing with Jennifer Prophet on a Newark street on Feb. 3, 2013 when she raised a handgun and fired four shots in Prophet's direction.
The shots missed Prophet, but one bullet struck and ultimately killed 49-year-old city resident Michael Brown as he was coming out of a nearby restaurant.
In sentencing Brooks on Friday to 101/2 years in state prison for the fatal shooting, Superior Court Judge Carolyn Wright said Brooks had shown "an indifference to the value of human life."
"Rather than real remorse, the court has only seen of Ms. Brooks callous disregard for other people," the judge said.
Brooks, now 21, of Newark, was convicted by a jury at her second trial on Feb. 1 of reckless manslaughter, unlawful possession of a weapon and aggravated assault by pointing a firearm. She was acquitted of a murder charge.
At her first trial in 2014, the jury found Brooks not guilty of an attempted murder charge, but could not reach a verdict on the remaining charges.
Under her sentence, Brooks received an aggregate prison term of nine years for the reckless manslaughter and weapon charges. She must serve more than seven years before becoming eligible for parole.
Brooks also received a term of 18 months in prison for the aggravated assault charge, which must be served consecutively to the nine-year prison term. She will receive credit for more than three years of time served.
The case represents Brooks's first conviction as an adult, but the judge noted how she has an extensive criminal history as a juvenile, starting when she was arrested for simple assault at the age of 11.
On the night of the incident, Prophet said she, her uncle, and another man walked over to Elizabeth Avenue to find Brooks, because Prophet believed Brooks was responsible for an earlier break-in at her Milford Avenue residence.
When Brooks arrived at the scene with two boys, Prophet said Brooks pulled out a gun and pointed it in her face. Prophet said one of the boys took the gun away from Brooks, but she snatched it back and opened fire in Prophet's direction, ultimately striking Brown.
When Brooks was later in custody at the Essex County jail on charges in the fatal shooting, authorities recorded phone calls in which she said nobody was hurt in the incident.
The judge said that sentiment demonstrates Brooks "disturbingly callous disregard for the life of a completely innocent bystander."
During Friday's hearing, Brown's relatives remembered him as a kind and hard-working father of three, and said his death has devastated their family.
Brown's brother, James Brown, said that when others were feeling sad and angry, his brother would "put a smile on your face."
"If anybody can go to a restaurant and get something to eat and come out and get shot and killed, I don't understand it," he said.
Brown's son, Anthony Wilson-Brown, said he "lost a father, a mentor and a great friend of mine."
But the family members also criticized Brooks for not showing any remorse over the killing.
"He left a mark of goodness on every life he touched. My family has been torn apart by his loss," said Brown's sister, Rosemarie Scott. "My family has a lot of healing to do."
Addressing Brooks directly, Scott added: "To this day, you have shown no remorse and have yet to apologize to my family.
When Brooks later addressed the court, she apologized to the Brown family.
"I want to say sorry to the family for their loss," Brooks said.
But Brooks also cast blame on Prophet and her family, saying they provoked her and threatened her. Brooks said Prophet may seem innocent, but "her and her family played a big part."
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.