Paterson shooting suspect arrested in Lodi

Paterson

By: Jeff Sommers

According to a statement from the Passaic County District Attorney’s Office, Gabriel Mercado, 23, of Lodi, was arrested on June 27, 2024, in connection with a shooting that occurred on June 4, 2024, at the corner of 10th Avenue and East 23rd Street.

District Attorney Camelia M. Valdes and Paterson Police Department Officer Isa Abbassi announced that Mercado would face charges including attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and endangering the welfare of a child.

A 29-year-old Paterson man suffered non-fatal gunshot wounds in the shooting.

During the investigation, which involved the Paterson Police Department, the Passaic County District Attorney’s Office, the New Jersey State Police and the ATF, Mercado was identified as a suspect.

He was arrested during a car stop in which 23-year-old Isaac Mejia of Paterson was also arrested and charged with weapons and drug offenses.

Prosecutor Valdes said Mercado will also be charged in connection with an April 17, 2024, shooting in Paterson in which he was involved along with 20-year-old Steven Batista of Massachusetts and a 17-year-old juvenile from Paterson.

The charges include attempted murder and various weapons offenses.

The juvenile’s case will be forwarded to Passaic County Family Court for further proceedings.