3 Men & A Juvenile Have Been Charged In Connection With 2 Paterson Shooting Investigations
Monday, July 1, 2024, 8:30 A.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent New,
PATERSON, NJ.- Local, State, and Federal Authorities have arrested a 23-year-old Lodi, New Jersey man, a 23-year-old Paterson, New Jersey man, a 20-year-old Malden, Massachusettes man, and a 17-year-old Paterson, New Jersey Juvenile in connection with two shootings that occurred in the City of Paterson on April 17, 2024, and June 4, 2024.
According to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes, on Thursday, June 27, 2024, Gabriel Mercado, 23, of Lodi, New Jersey was formally charged with first-degree Attempted Murder; second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; third-degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child; and fourth-degree Aggravated Assault.
The charges stem from an incident that unfolded on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, when at approximately 10:51 p.m., members of the Paterson Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the area of 10th Avenue and and East 23rd Street in the City of Paterson.
Upon arrival, Police Officers found a 29-year-old Paterson man having sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The man was transported to Saint Joseph’s University Medical Center for treatment and subsequently released.
Following a motor vehicle stop, on Thursday, Mercado and Issac Mejia, 23, of Paterson, New Jersey, were taken into custody by members of the New Jersey State Police Violent & Organized Crime Control North Bureau in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Mercado was additionally charged and Mejia was charged with second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; second-degree Possession of a Weapon During a Controlled Dangerous Substance Offense; third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance; third-degree Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with the Intent to Distribute; and fourth-degree Possessions of a High Capacity Magazine.
Mercado had been charged and released on bail conditions in connection with an April 17, 2024, shooting in a Paterson residential neighborhood. Following that investigation, Mercado was formally charged with first-degree Attempted Murder; second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; third-degree Receiving Stolen Property; third-degree Hindering Apprehension; fourth-degree Possession of a Defaced Firearm; and fourth-degree Possession of a High Capacity Magazine.
In addition during Mercado’s arrest, two additional people were taken into custody, Steven Batista, 20, of Malden, Massachusettes, and a 17-year-old Paterson, New Jersey juvenile male.
Following being taken into custody, Batista was formally charged with first-degree Attempted Murder; second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; third-degree Hindering Apprehension; fourth-degree Possession of a Defaced Firearm; fourth-degree fourth-degree Joyriding; fourth-degree Obstruction of Justice; and fourth-degree Tampering with Evidence.
The 17-year-old juvenile was charged with acts of juvenile delinquency, constituting crimes of first-degree Attempted Murder; second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon; second-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose; third-degree Hindering Apprehension; fourth-degree Possession of a Defaced Firearm; fourth-degree Possession of a High Capacity Magazine; fourth-degree Juvenile in Possession of a Firearm; fourth-degree Resisting Arrest by Flight; fourth-degree Obstruction of Justice; and fourth-degree Tampering with Evidence.
The charges filed against Batista and the juvenile stem from an investigation that began on April 17, 2024, when shortly after 3:00 p.m., members of the Paterson Police Department responded to a report of a shooting in the area of Lyon and Mercer Streets in the City of Paterson. Upon arrival, Police Officers later identified an intended target of shooting who was uninjured.
A swift-moving investigation by Paterson Police Detectives and Detectives of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office was able to identify Mercado, Batista, and the juvenile as the individuals responsible for the shooting. The three were arrested later that day without incident in Paterson, New Jersey.
Batista and the juvenile, along with Mercado appeared in Passaic County Court, and Mercado and the juvenile were released on bail conditions pending future court proceedings. Batista appeared in Passaic County Superior Court, and on April 30, 2024, a Superior Court Judge granted the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office motion to have Batista detained pending trial.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a detention motion to have Mercado and Mejia detained pending trial in the June 4, 2024 shooting.
Anyone with additional information regarding these shootings is urged to contact the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 877-370-PCPO or tips@passaicccountynj.org or you can contact the Paterson Police Department’s Shooting Investigation Unit at (973) 321-1342. All calls will be kept confidential.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement, that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
