Newark, N.J.- Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II announced today that a Newark man has been convicted of attempted murder and weapons offenses in connection with the 2025 shooting of a man outside a Newark bar.
On August 5, 2026, after approximately two hours of deliberations, a jury convicted Daishaun Mercer, 26, of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, second-degree possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose.
Assistant Prosecutor Melanie Laprade and Assistant Prosecutor Dylan Dalbeck tried the case before the Honorable Michael Parlavecchio, J.S.C.
The prosecution proved that Mercer and the victim, Dominique Horne, 35, of Irvington, were both outside an establishment on Academy Street in Newark in the early hours of July 27, 2025, when a fight broke out between two other individuals. During the altercation, the defendant retrieved a gun from his waistband and shot Horne six times. Horne suffered life-threatening injuries, including a gunshot wound to the head. He was rushed to the University Hospital by members of the Newark Police Division.
Following the verdict, Assistant Prosecutor Laprade said, “We are grateful the jury reached a fair and just verdict in this case. In doing so, they sent a strong message that gun violence will not be tolerated in our communities.”
Assistant Prosecutor Dalbeck added, “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of Essex County Prosecutor’s Office detectives and the Newark Police Division throughout this investigation. We hope the victim finds some measure of comfort knowing that justice was served.”
Mercer is scheduled for sentencing on September 26, 2026. He faces a possible sentence of 30 years to life in New Jersey State Prison.
Anyone with information related to criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Tips Line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. All calls will remain confidential.
DAISHAUN MERCER
