Essex County Man Guilty Of Fatal Shooting In Bloomfield Store

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An Irvington man was convicted of murder and other charges after he fatally shot an East Orange resident in a Bloomfield store three years ago, prosecutors announced Wednesday.

Last week, a jury found Joseph Ocasio, 29, guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, weapons offenses and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutors said that Ocasio entered Nitty Sons Variety Store in Bloomfield in April 2022, then shot and killed Christian Perez, 23, of East Orange.

Ocasio also shot Kwame Kemp, 31, in the back, leaving him partially paralyzed. A third man, Rahim Teague, 32, was shot in the hand, prosecutors said.

Teague’s three children – ages 7, 9 and 14 – were in the store at the time of the shootings, prosecutors said.

The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office credited the Bloomfield, East Orange and Newark police departments for aiding with the investigation leading to Ocasio’s conviction.

Ocasio is scheduled for sentencing on July 7. He faces life in prison, prosecutors said.

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