KISSIMMEE, Fla. (TND) — “Multiple 911 callers reported having heard 10 to 15 gunshots and people screaming that someone had been shot and screaming for help.”
Authorities in Florida responded to that scene early on Jan. 21 and found a man “on the ground with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds and minimal pulse.”
Steven Jesus Perez, 31, was pronounced dead within the hour.
People were gathered for a woman's 30th birthday party and her cousin's husband, Maximo Mercado Jr., “(nickname ‘Max/Banger’) invited friends of his,” according to a detective's affidavit for an arrest warrant.
It said the victim approached the guest of honor “and said that he didn't have a good feeling with the guests, and he believed they brought guns.”
Later, she was invited to return to her cousin's house, but “Steven became [redacted] should not leave.”
Then, it said she “didn't know exactly what happened but knew an altercation ensued outside [redacted] home involving Steven. She heard gunshots outside the home and saw Steven lying in the grass.”
The suspect, Mercado, “fled the scene” with several other people. “Osceola County’s aviation unit responded and located a black Cadillac Escalade [and] it was observed pulling into” Mercado’s driveway.”
Then, “Multiple subjects were observed exiting the vehicle and entering the residence.
“Additionally, two subjects were observed running to a nearby pond and throwing items into it.
“These items were later recovered, which included a black pistol which was positively identified as a pistol used by Steven to shoot [Mercado’s wife], and used by Maximo, Jr., to shoot at Steven.
“Patrol units arrived at [address] and were able to find and identify all of the parties involved who fled the scene at [address].
“The subjects were secured, separated, and transported for interviews.”
Mercado’s wife reportedly said they left and “Steven followed, leaving through the garage.
“Steven was yelling at” another man who’d “made advancements” toward the birthday guest of honor, and Mercado’s wife “ran into the home and told family therein that they needed to get Steven due to his agitation.
“She returned outside and began to push Steven toward the front door of the home.
“She felt an unknown person from behind her jump up and strike Steven from over her shoulder.
“Steven then shot a round, striking her right knee.
“She heard multiple gunshots and ran back toward the black Cadillac.
“She didn't remember anything after that point until waking up on the couch back at her home.
“She said she did not know who else shot a gun.”
The document makes no reference to her getting medical care.
It also said, “Maximo, Jr., recalled the party going well until they left when his cousin, Steven, became angry toward them.
“He remembered Steven on the pathway in front of the front door of [address] yelling while he and his wife were attempting to calm him down.
“[The other man] and Steven got into a physical altercation, and Steven shot a round which he believed struck his wife [name] in the abdomen.
“He said that Steven owned multiple guns and feared he may have more than one on his person.
“Maximo, Jr., then observed a black gun on the floor and he immediately picked it up, and began shooting towards Steven to get his wife to safety.
“He believed he shot two rounds before running to the Escalade.
“As he did this, Steven was turning to run away.
“Maximo, Jr., said that he wasn't going to chase him.
“He didn't know if his rounds struck Steven or not.
“At the time, Steven was positioned between Maximo, Jr., and the northeastern-facing wall of the” home next door, which appeared to be hit by two bullets.
“Maximo remembered hearing multiple other shots coming from behind him also,” the document continued, “but did not know who else shot.
“He initially said that he threw the gun into the grass in the front yard of the residence after using it to shoot at Steven, though later he said he actually took the gun from the scene and intended to throw it out of the window of the Cadillac on the way home.
“Maximo, Jr., said he kept the firearm with him all the way home and took inside his home.
“Maximo, Jr., placed the firearm on a counter and said aloud that the firearm needed to go away.
“Maximo, Jr., said did not divulge who took the gun from the counter or how it ended up in the pond.
“It should be noted, the gun recovered from the pond behind Maximo, Jr.’s, address was wrapped in a black ‘MTV’ t-shirt.
“An image of the shirt and gun was shown to him at which point he said, with reluctance, that it was one and the same gun used by Steven, and in turn used by him to shoot at Steven.”
Mercado was arrested and charged with premeditated murder, but he bonded out days later after his public defender filed a motion saying the state did not meet its burden under the Pre-Trial Detention statute to hold him without bond.
He was arrested again, this time in Lake County, on May 29, and charged with second-degree murder with a firearm, two counts of shooting into a building, and tampering with physical evidence.
The 41-year-old was returned to Osceola County on June 3, and he's once again being held without bond.
