A quiet Fitchburg street was disturbed by the sound of a gunshot shortly after midnight on August 3, 2025, leading to the death of 63-year-old Luis Mejia, a Hispanic male. Officers were dispatched to a multi-family home on Mechanic Street around 12:15 a.m. where they discovered Mejia suffering from a gunshot wound in the driveway. He was quickly transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Neighbors later recounted hearing a car speeding away from the scene, initially mistaking the fatal shot for a car backfiring.
The investigation swiftly centered on a family gathering that had been taking place in the driveway of the residence. Authorities identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jonathan A. Reyes-Contreras of New Jersey, who is reportedly Mejia's stepson. According to court documents, Reyes-Contreras was sitting in the front passenger seat of a Honda Ridgeline while Mejia was standing outside the driver's side window, speaking with the driver. Reyes-Contreras allegedly took a handgun from the center console and the weapon discharged, striking Mejia in the left rib area.
Jonathan Reyes-Contreras was arrested later that day and faced arraignment on charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling. He entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. In statements to the police, Reyes-Contreras claimed that the shooting was an accident, repeatedly stating that he had just grabbed the gun when it went off. He was ordered to be held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. Authorities have indicated that the parties involved were known to each other and that there was no broader threat to the public.
