Search For Shooter In Nutley Attempted Murder Continues, Prosecutors Say

NUTLEY, NJ — A New York man was convicted of attempted murder after he took part in a shooting that wounded a 19-year-old victim outside his mother’s home in Nutley, prosecutors said.

Armando Villareal Mena, 66, of Newburgh, New York, was found guilty of multiple crimes for participating in the shooting, which took place on July 4, 2025.

The identity of the shooter remains unknown. A police investigation is ongoing, authorities said.

Here’s what happened, according to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office:

“Mena and a co-conspirator drove from Newburgh, New York to the victim’s mother’s home in Nutley. Surveillance video showed the vehicle circling the block before stopping in front of the house. Mena is seen smashing the window of the victim’s mother’s car to lure [the victim] out of the house. The co-conspirator fired 12 shots as Mena drove toward the victim. [The victim] was struck by gunfire four times, and the assailants fled the scene.”

The victim’s mother transported him in the damaged vehicle to a local hospital for treatment, prosecutors said.

Three days later, Mena was arrested while driving the suspect vehicle in Newburgh. Following his arrest, he gave a statement to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force in which he admitted to being the driver, authorities said.

On Oct. 23, a jury found Mena guilty on charges of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree attempted murder, and second-degree aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.

Mena is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 18. He faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, prosecutors said.

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