The Trenton New Jersey man originally charged for attempted homicide for shooting a man in the head at gentleman’s club in Morrisville last summer is now charged with homicide as the victim died.
The Bucks County District Attorney’s office made the announcement Wednesday that Pedro E. Rodriguez, 28, of Trenton, N.J., was charged Tuesday with criminal homicide. He was originally charged with attempted homicide for the alleged shooting at the Border Gentlemen’s Club on August 29. Rodriguez is currently being held at Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF) on 10 percent of $5 million. The upgrading to a homicide charge erases any possibility for the Trenton man to post bail as individuals charged with homicide are not eligible for bail in Bucks County.
Mekhi Norman, the victim, was shot in the back of the head, left thigh, and the torso around 1:10 am on the morning of August 29 at the club located on 440 S. Pennsylvania Avenue. Norman was taken to a Trenton hospital in critical condition and succumbed to his injuries on Sept. 6. The Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined his cause of death to be complications from multiple gunshot injuries. His manner of death was ruled a homicide, Bucks County authorities said Wednesday.
Credit: Sarah Nicole
Norman was an innocent bystander who attempted to assist the staff when he was shot. He did not know Rodriguez. Investigators an altercation occurred at the doorway of the establishment setting of Rodriguez leading him to reach for his gun and firing off shots. At the time of the incident, 17 patrons/employees were inside of the establishment.
Rodriguez was scheduled for hearing last month at district court, however, it was cancelled at the last minute and until the announcement yesterday it was unclear what the procedural hold up was.
Bucks County authorities also announced that the man who fled with Rodriguez, Kevin Perez, 21, also of Trenton, was also charged and recently appeared in court for a preliminary hearing last month with of all his charges —five counts each of simple assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment held over for trial. .
Investigators said Perez assaulted the staff at the club just before the shooting erupted. His next court date is scheduled for later this month. He is also being held at BCCF unable to post the 10 percent of $100,000.00
Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned on the new homicide charge Friday in Morrisville District Court by Judge Corryn L. Kronnagel.
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