A 29 year old Trenton man will spend the prime of his life, and then some, locked up behind the walls of a state prison for shooting and killing a good samaritan at Morrisville gentlemen’s club in August of 2024.
Pedro E. Rodriguez, 29, entered guilty pleas, on Friday, before Common Pleas Judge Charissa J. Liller to third-degree murder, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, possession of an instrument of crime, and four counts of recklessly endangering another person as part of a negotiated sentence, Bucks County District Attorney’s office spokesman Manuel Gamiz Jr. said Friday.
During the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Ed Louka played surveillance footage showing Rodriguez casually walking to his vehicle to retrieve a handgun, racking the weapon, and returning to the club entrance. Rodriguez then fired into the establishment where his nephew was engaged in a fight with security staff who were attempting to remove him.
28-year-old Mekhi Norman , an innocent bystander who had stepped forward to assist the staff during the altercation, was shot by Rodriguez, in the head.
In sentencing Rodriguez, Judge Liller noted that Norman died doing the right thing, stating that he was a hero that day and died trying to help others. Deputy District Attorney Louka further described Norman as a good father, a good son, and a good friend who died being a Good Samaritan.
“While this sentence ensures that the defendant is held accountable for his senseless and violent actions, we know it cannot fill the void left in the lives of those who loved Mr. Norman,” District Attorney Joe Khan said. “Our office remains committed to seeking justice for victims and honoring the courage of those who, like Mr. Norman, stand up for others in our community.”
Rodriguez fled the scene following the incident but surrendered to authorities later that day.
Rodriguez’s nephew, 22-year-old Kevin Perez of Trenton, entered a guilty plea last year to several counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct, and harassment for assaulting staff just before the shooting erupted. He was sentenced to 10 to 23 months in the Bucks County Correctional Facility, followed by a year of probation, according to authorities.