 Kenneth Garcia |
 Luis Ledesma |
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Passaic Police Chief Luis A. Guzman announce that based upon an investigation by the Passaic Police Department in conjunction with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Kenneth Garcia, 21-years-old, from Passaic New Jersey; Luis Ledesma, 22-years-old from Passaic New Jersey; and a 16-year-old juvenile, were arrested in relation to a shooting incident that occurred on March 26, 2023, in the area of Monroe Street and Myrtle Avenue in Passaic, New Jersey. Kenneth Garcia and Luis Ledesma are both charged with 10 counts of Attempted Murder, First Degree; Employing a Juvenile, First Degree; 10 counts of Aggravated Assault, Second Degree; 10 counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree; 2 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Second Degree; 10 counts of Aggravated Assault, Third Degree; and 10 counts of Aggravated Assault, Fourth Degree. Luis Ledesma is also charged with Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons, Second Degree.
The 16-year-old juvenile is charged with 10 counts of Attempted Murder, First Degree; 10 counts of Aggravated Assault, Second Degree; 10 counts of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Second Degree; 2 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Second Degree; 10 counts of Aggravated Assault, Third Degree; and 10 counts of Aggravated Assault, Fourth Degree.
On March 26, 2023, at approximately 10:10 p.m., multiple shots were fired from a passing vehicle at ten individuals standing on Monroe Street between Myrtle Avene and Lucille Place in Passaic, New Jersey. An investigation by the Passaic Police Department’s Detective Bureau led to the identification of Kenneth Garcia, Luis Ledesma and a 16-year-old juvenile as the perpetrators of the shooting,
On April 6, 2023, search warrants were executed at multiple locations in Passaic, New Jersey, following the shooting investigation.
After the execution of a search warrant at a location in the area of 5th Street and Passaic Street in Passaic, New Jersey on April 6, 2023, Kenneth Garcia was additionally charged with Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (‘CDS’) with the Intent to Distribute, First Degree; Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Second Degree; Possession of a Weapon during a CDS Offense, Second Degree; Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of Certain Public Property, Second Degree; Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute within 1000 feet of School Property, Third Degree; Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute, Third Degree; Possession of CDS, Third Degree; Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, Fourth Degree; Possession of Hollow Point Bullets, Fourth Degree; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense.
Following the execution of a search warrant at a separate location in the area of 3rd Street and Bergen Street in Passaic, New Jersey, on April 6, 2023, Luis Ledesma and the 16-year-old juvenile were additionally charged with Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (‘CDS’) with the Intent to Distribute, First Degree; Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute, Second Degree; Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute within 500 feet of Certain Public Property, Second Degree; Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute within 1000 feet of School Property, Third Degree; Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute, Third Degree; Possession of CDS, Third Degree; Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, Fourth Degree; and Possession of Hollow Point Bullets, Fourth Degree.
The above arrests were the product of a twelve-day investigation by the Passaic Police Department’s Detective Bureau with the assistance of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. The Passaic Police Department’s Detective Bureau executed the search warrants and arrest warrants with the assistance of the Passaic Police Department’s Emergency Response Team, Special Operations Division, Gang Intelligence Unit, Community Response Unit, Patrol Division, and Youth Services Bureau. Members of the United States’ Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office CSI Unit also assisted.
The sentencing exposure for each count of First-Degree Attempted Murder is 10-20 years in New Jersey State Prison with 85% of that term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act and five years parole supervision after release; on each count of Second-Degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with a minimum of 42 months before parole eligibility pursuant to the Graves Act; on each count of Second-Degree Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 42 months of parole ineligibility pursuant to the Graves Act; on each count of Aggravated Assault, Second Degree it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act; on each count of Aggravated Assault, Third Degree it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 85% of the term to be served before parole eligibility pursuant to the No Early Release Act; on each count of Aggravated Assault Fourth Degree, it is 18 months in New Jersey State Prison with 18 months to be served before parole eligibility subject to the graves act, on Second Degree Certain Persons Not to Have Weapons it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison with 5 years to be served before parole eligibility; on Third Degree Possession of CDS it is 3-5 years New Jersey State Prison; on First Degree Possession CDS with the Intent to Distribute it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison; on Third Degree Possession CDS while within 1000 feet of school property it is 3-5 years New Jersey State Prison; on Second Degree Possession CDS with the intent to distribute while within 500 feet of public property it is 5-10 years New Jersey State Prison.
The State intends to file motions for pretrial detention as to Luis Ledesma and Kenneth Garcia that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
A juvenile complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the juveniles are presumed innocent unless and until proven delinquent beyond a reasonable doubt. The complaints that have been filed against the juvenile are docketed within the Superior Court Family Division. Juvenile proceedings pursuant to New Jersey law must remain confidential. Therefore, the juveniles cannot be identified.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office asks anyone with additional information about this incident to contact us on our tips line at 1-877-370-PCPO or tips@passaiccountynj.org or contact the Passaic Police Department Detective Bureau at 973-365-3938.