NUTLEY, NJ — A Fourth of July shooting that left a 19-year-old man with four gunshot wounds has resulted in an attempted murder conviction more than a year later. But the person who pulled the trigger has yet to be identified.
Armando Villareal Mena, 66, of Newburgh, New York, was found guilty on October 23, 2026, of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree attempted murder and second-degree aggravated assault in connection with the shooting of Jahniel Perez, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office.
The jury reached its verdict after one day of deliberations.
A Fourth of July Attack
The shooting happened on July 4, 2025, outside the Nutley home of Perez's mother.
According to prosecutors, Mena and another individual traveled from Newburgh to the residence. Surveillance footage presented during the trial showed their vehicle circling the block several times before stopping in front of the house.
Mena then smashed a window of the mother's vehicle in an effort to lure Perez outside, prosecutors said.
When the teenager emerged, the second individual opened fire, discharging 12 rounds as Mena drove toward Perez.
Four bullets struck the 19-year-old.
Both individuals fled the scene, leaving Perez wounded outside his mother's home.
Despite the damage to her vehicle, Perez's mother managed to transport her son to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.
Arrested Three Days Later
On July 7, 2025, investigators arrested Mena in Newburgh while he was operating the vehicle connected to the shooting.
During a subsequent interview with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force, Mena admitted that he had been driving the vehicle, according to authorities.
The case eventually went to trial before Superior Court Judge Joseph N. Minish.
Assistant Prosecutors Christopher Byrnes and Alexander Wukovits represented the state.
Following the jury's verdict, Wukovits thanked investigators from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office Homicide Task Force, Nutley Police Department and Newburgh Police Department for their work on the case.
Shooter Still Unidentified
Although Mena has been convicted for his involvement in the attack, authorities have not identified the individual who fired the 12 shots at Perez.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Mena is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18, 2026, and faces a potential prison term of up to 20 years.
Authorities are asking anyone with information about the shooting or other criminal activity to contact the Essex County Prosecutor's Office confidential tips line at 1-877-847-7432.
Source: Essex County Prosecutor's Office, New York Man Convicted in 2025 Nutley Attempted Murder.
