New Jersey Man Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Morrisville Club Shooting
A New Jersey man will spend at least 30 years in a Pennsylvania prison for the 2024 murder of a man who intervened in a fight at a Morrisville gentlemen’s club. Pedro E. Rodriguez, 29, of Trenton, was sentenced on Friday, February 13, 2026, by Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Charissa Liller to 30 to 60 years in prison for the death of Mekhi Norman, 28, of New York.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and four counts of reckless endangering, leading to the sentencing. The incident unfolded in the early morning hours of August 29, 2024, at The Border Gentlemen’s Club in Morrisville. According to police reports, Rodriguez and his nephew, Kevin Perez, 22, also of Trenton, were asked to stop being served alcohol by the club owner, prompting a confrontation.
Rodriguez announced his intention to retrieve a gun from his car while Perez began fighting with the owner and security staff attempting to remove him from the premises. After obtaining the firearm, Rodriguez allegedly walked to the entrance of the club and fired multiple shots, striking Norman, who was attempting to assist the staff in controlling Perez. Norman succumbed to his injuries on September 6, 2024.
There were 17 people inside the club when the shooting occurred, and the two men did not know Norman. Rodriguez fled the scene but surrendered to police the following day. He was initially charged with attempted murder, with the charges upgraded after Norman’s death.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Liller acknowledged Norman’s bravery, stating he died doing the right thing and calling him a hero for attempting to help others. Deputy District Attorney Edward Louka described Norman as a devoted father, son, and friend who was acting as a “good Samaritan” when he was killed.
Family members of Norman shared victim impact statements in court. His mother described him as a “gentle giant” with a vibrant personality, while his stepmother expressed the lasting void his death has created within the family. The mother of Norman’s daughter recounted how her child continues to wait for calls from her father that will never come.
Rodriguez’s nephew, Kevin Perez, also faced charges in connection with the incident. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, including simple assault and disorderly conduct, and is currently serving a sentence of 10 to 23 months at the Bucks County Correctional Center.
The shooting stemmed from an initial dispute over alcohol service. According to police, a bartender had asked Rodriguez and Perez to lower their voices and refused to continue serving them drinks, escalating the situation that ultimately led to the tragic outcome.
