North Bergen Teen Sentenced as an Adult for 2019 Spring Valley Homicide

by Rockland Daily Staff 

The Honorable Kevin F. Russo sentenced Jayden Rodriguez (19) of North Bergen, NJ, to 19 years in state prison, followed by five years post-release supervision. 

The sentencing was announced on August 10 by Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II. 

In September 2019, Rodriguez entered a Spring Valley apartment building and fired numerous shots at Emerson Jean-Baptiste, killing him. Rodriguez was arrested by the Village of Spring Valley Police Department with the assistance of the City of North Bergen Police Department the following day. The Haverstraw Police Department uncovered the firearm used for the murder during an unrelated incident several days later.  

Rodriguez made his guilty plea to Manslaughter in the First Degree on Tuesday, May 1, for the Spring Valley homicide.

District Attorney Tom Walsh said, "The defendant's actions on that day ended the life of one man and forever changed the lives of his family and loved ones. Mr. Rodriguez is being held accountable for committing this senseless act of violence and will be serving a lengthy prison term as punishment."

Walsh continued, "I would like to commend the Spring Valley Police Department, City of North Bergen Police Department, and the Rockland County Sheriff's Office who worked closely with my office during the prosecution to bring justice to the family of Emerson Jean-Baptiste."

Since Rodriguez was 17 years old at the time of his crime, he was potentially eligible for designation as a Youthful Offender at the time of his sentencing. This designation would have resulted in a shorter prison sentence. However, the court declined to grant this designation, sentencing Rodriguez as an adult based on the nature of the offense.