A New Jersey man was sentenced to 65 years in prison for fatally shooting a man in Trenton during a memorial event for another shooting victim, authorities said Tuesday.
Matthew Tanner, 40, was convicted earlier this year for the 2021 murder of 30-year-old Daquan Basnight. His sentence was handed down on Aug. 13.
Under New Jersey law, Tanner must serve at least 55 years of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Basnight was attending a memorial celebration for Shakir Williams, who was fatally shot in Trenton in 2013, when he was 17 years old. In the following years, Williams’ family has hosted “Sha’ Day” in his honor.
Tanner was also spotted at the event on July 31, 2021, according to police. He then left, changed his clothes, sneaked through back alleys, fired 13 shots to kill Basnight and sprinted away through the same alleys, investigators said. Authorities have not publicly presented a motive for the shooting.
Cops quickly identified Tanner as a suspect, and he arrived to an interview wearing the same black T-shirt and black pants he wore on the night of the shooting, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office said. Tanner also identified himself at the scene of the shooting.
Tanner was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and three weapons crimes on Aug. 3, 2021. He was convicted following his trial in April 2025.
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