Gabriel Mercado |
 Issac Mejia |
 Steven Batista |
Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Department Officer-In- Charge Isa Abbassi announce that based upon an investigation by the Paterson Police Department Shooting Investigation Unit, the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police Violent & Organized Crime Control North Bureau in conjunction with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Gabriel Mercado, 23 years-old, from Lodi, New Jersey, was arrested on June 27, 2024, in connection to a shooting that took place on June 4, 2024, in the area of 10th Avenue and East 23rd Street, Paterson, New Jersey. Mercardo is charged with Attempted Murder, first degree, Unlawful Possession of Handgun, second degree, Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Aggravated Assault, fourth degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, third degree.
At approximately 10:51 p.m., on June 4, 2024, members of the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to the area of 10th Avenue and East 23rd Street on report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police were able to locate a 29-year-old male victim from Paterson, New Jersey. The victim was transported to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center for treatment of non-fatal gunshot wounds. Members of the Paterson Police Department were able to locate a potential crime scene in the area. The subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Mercardo was responsible for the shooting.
Mr. Mercardo was arrested on June 27, 2024, 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, during a motor vehicle stop. As a result of the motor vehicle stop, Mr. Mercardo and Mr. Issac Mejia, 23-year-old male from Paterson, New Jersey were charged with Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second degree, Possession of a Weapon during a CDS Offense, second degree, Possession of CDS, third degree, Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute, third degree, and Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine, fourth degree.
In addition, Mr. Mercardo had charges pending from a shooting incident which occurred on April 17, 2024, in the area of Lyon Street and Mercer Street, Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. Mercado was charged with Attempted Murder, first degree, Unlawful Possession of Handgun, second degree, Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Possession of a Defaced firearm, fourth degree, Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, fourth degree, Receiving Stolen Property, third degree, Obstruction, fourth degree, Hindering, third degree, and Tampering with Evidence, fourth degree. During that incident, two other individuals were also charged. A 20-year- old male from Malden Massachusetts, identified as Steven Batista, and a 17-year-old juvenile from Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. Batista was charged with Attempted Murder, first degree, Unlawful Possession of Handgun, second degree, Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, fourth degree, Joyriding, fourth degree, Obstruction, fourth degree, Hindering, third degree, and Tampering with Evidence, fourth degree. The 17-year-old juvenile was charged with acts of juvenile delinquency that would constitute the crimes of Attempted Murder, first degree, Unlawful Possession of Handgun, second degree, Possession of a Handgun for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Possession of a Defaced firearm, fourth degree, Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine, fourth degree, Juvenile in Possession of a Firearm, fourth degree, Resisting Arrest by Flight, fourth degree, Obstruction, fourth degree, Hindering, third degree, and Tampering with Evidence, fourth degree.
At approximately 3:14 p.m. on April 17, 2024, members of the Paterson Police Department were dispatched to the area of Lyon Street and Mercer Street, in Paterson, New Jersey on a report of a shooting. A victim was later identified but had not suffered any gunshot wounds. The subsequent investigation revealed that Mr. Mercardo, Mr. Batista, and the juvenile male were responsible for the shooting. Mr. Batista and the juvenile were arrested on April 17, 2024, by members of Paterson Police without incident. The State previously filed for detention for Mr. Batista. On April 30, 2024, a Superior Court Judge granted the State’s Motion for pre-trial detention.
A juvenile delinquency complaint is merely an accusation. Despite these accusations, the juvenile is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The matter has been referred to the Passaic County Family Court, Juvenile Part, for further proceedings.
The crime of Attempted Murder, first degree, has a sentencing range of 10 to 20 years in prison with a requirement to serve 85% of the sentence before parole eligibility. Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, second degree, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, second degree, and Possession of a Weapon during a CDS Offense, have a sentencing range of 5 to 10 years in prison with 42 months to be served before parole eligibility. The crimes of Receiving Stolen Property, third degree, Resisting Arrest by flight, third degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, third degree, Possession of CDS, third degree, and Possession of CDS with the Intent to Distribute, have a sentencing range of 3 to 5 years in prison. Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine, fourth degree, Possession of a Defaced firearm, fourth degree, Obstruction, fourth degree, Tampering with Evidence, fourth degree, and Joyriding, fourth degree, have a sentencing range of up to 18 months in prison. The crime of Aggravated Assault by Pointing, fourth degree, has a sentencing exposure of 18 months in prison with 18 months to be served before parole eligibility.
The State has filed motions for pretrial detention for Mr. Mercardo and Mr. Mejia that will be heard by a Superior Court Judge.
Criminal complaints are merely accusations. Despite these accusations, defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
These investigations remain active and ongoing. More information will be released once it becomes available.
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 Paterson Police Shooting Investigation Unit at 973-321-1342.