Murder In Bloomfield Store Happened With Kids Present, Shooter Sentenced To Prison

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — An Irvington man who fatally shot an East Orange resident inside a Bloomfield store has been sentenced to life in prison, prosecutors announced Monday.

Joseph Ocasio, 29, of Irvington, was sentenced to life plus 45 years for killing a man during a multiple shooting at Nitty Sons Variety Store in Bloomfield in 2022, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

Two other people were wounded in the shooting, which took place with several children present, prosecutors said:

“On April 10, 2022, Ocasio entered Nitty Sons Variety Store in Bloomfield and fatally shot Christian Perez, 23, of East Orange. Ocasio also shot Kwame Kemp, 31, of Paterson, in the back leaving him partially paralyzed. A third man, Rahim Teague, 32, of Irvington, was shot in the hand.”

Teague’s three children – ages 7, 9 and 14 – were also in the store at the time of the shootings. None of the children were physically harmed, authorities said.

Ocasio was convicted of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child in April.

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