2 Lynn Men Plead Guilty In Salem Man's Shooting Death

SALEM, MA — Two Lynn men pleaded guilty to the shooting death of a 20-year-old Salem man at a meetup behind Lynn English High School in 2022.

Alan Bernadin, 23, and Nathaniel Mercedat, 23, both of Lynn, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Salem District Court on Wednesday.

The Essex County DA's Office provided evidence that ballistics testing showed that Gomez was shot four times, with bullets coming from two separate guns.

Mercedat also pleaded guilty to assault and battery with a deadly weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing a correctional institution — charges stemming from an altercation in the Middleton House of Correction in which he stomped on another inmate's head, the DA's Office said.

The two men were sentenced to at least nine years in prison on the manslaughter charges.

Mercedat was also sentenced to an additional 90 days for the other charges.

Essex County DA Paul Tucker praised the investigative work of Detective Josh Hilton and the Lynn Police Department, Trooper Matt Murphy and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to Essex County, and the Salem Police Department.

Members of Gomez's family spoke to the court during the hearing, remembering Gomez as a vibrant young man, son, brother, and friend.

Gomez was an emerging musical artist who was preparing to perform for A&R executives in New York City at the time of his death.