An Orange man has been sentenced to 55 years in state prison for the 2018 stabbing death of his former girlfriend, 20-year-old Akirah Townes, in Montclair, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.

Ahigjah Broomes, 29, was convicted in March of murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Townes, a Kean University student, was with friends on Bloomfield Avenue preparing to leave for a trip to Virginia Beach in the early morning hours of April 27, 2018, when Broomes approached her with a knife and stabbed her multiple times, according to prosecutors. Townes had ended their relationship four months earlier.

Townes tried to get away as her friends attempted to intervene. Broomes then fled.

Townes was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Under New Jersey's No Early Release Act, Broomes must serve 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.