8 Arrests After Dispute Among Teens, Adults In Bergen County Leads To Shooting

BERGENFIELD, NJ — Eight people were arrested in Bergen County on Saturday night after a dispute between two groups of people in their teens and 20s led to a shooting, police said.

Police responded to a report of a dispute around 10:48 p.m. near the intersection of West Broad and School streets in Bergenfield, said Captain William Duran on Tuesday.

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As police were en route, they were told someone had brandished a gun and fired a shot.

Police came upon two groups of people and separated them, Duran said.

Police also found a 2025 Toyota Corolla with all four tires punctured and an estimated $2,000 in damage.

Police determined that five people had come to the area to confront a group of three others about "ongoing issues."

Police said Emmanuel Mendoza, 25, from North Bergen had punctured the tires on the Toyota.

The car's owner, Santos Villafuerte, 28, from Dallas, N.C., then brandished an unregistered gun, police said. He fired a round toward the other group, police said.

Police searched and found Valeree Rendon Granja, 19, of Bergenfield in possession of the gun, which she was trying to conceal, police said.

Police confiscated a 9mm Springfield handgun with a high capacity magazine.

Eight people at the scene were arrested on the following charges:

• Santos Villafuerte, aggravated assault and weapons charges.
• Valeree Rendon Granja, weapons charges, tampering with evidence, false report to law enforcement.
• Emmanuel Mendoza, criminal mischief, obstructing the administration of law.
• Aiden Sanchez, 18, from North Bergen, obstructing.
• Angel Dujarric, 20, North Bergen, hindering the apprehension of another.
• Nehimah Beckham, 18, Jersey City, hindering the apprehension of another.
• Aniyah Martinez, 18, Jersey City, hindering the apprehension of another.
• Gabriella Castro, 25, Dallas, N.C., hindering the apprehension of another.

The Bergenfield Ambulance Corps responded to the scene to treat a woman for symptoms unrelated to the shooting, police said. She refused medical attention.

Villafuerte, the alleged shooter, was taken to the Bergen County Corrections and Rehabilitation Center to await an appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court.

Mendoza, Sanchez, Dujarric, Beckham, Martinez, and Castro were released on summonses to await an appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing, police said.