On January 21, 2024, at approximately 1:00 am, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting incident at 1131 Doncaster Court in Kissimmee, Osceola County, Florida. Upon arrival, deputies and detectives found Steven Jesus Perez, 31, on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds and a minimal pulse. He was pronounced deceased within the hour.
The incident occurred during a 30th birthday party for a woman, where her cousin's husband, Maximo Mercado Jr., had invited friends.
Steven Jesus Perez, who was related to the birthday party attendees, expressed concerns about the guests, believing they had brought guns. An altercation ensued outside the home, involving Perez and other individuals.
According to reports, Perez became agitated and was yelling at another man who had made advancements towards the birthday guest of honor. Mercado’s wife attempted to calm Perez down and push him towards the front door of the home. During this time, an unknown person struck Perez from behind, and he shot a round that struck Mercado’s wife in the knee. Multiple gunshots followed, and Mercado’s wife ran back to a black Cadillac Escalade.
Maximo Mercado Jr. recalled that the party was going well until they left and Perez became angry. He remembered Perez shooting a round, which he believed struck his wife, and then Mercado Jr. picked up a gun from the floor and began shooting towards Perez to get his wife to safety. Mercado Jr. admitted to shooting two rounds before running to the Escalade.
Following the shooting, Mercado Jr. and several other individuals fled the scene in the Cadillac Escalade. The Osceola County aviation unit located the vehicle, and multiple subjects were observed exiting it and entering Mercado’s residence. Items, including a black pistol used by both Perez and Mercado Jr., were recovered from a nearby pond.
Maximo Mercado Jr. and another individual, Liam Nicholson, were identified as the shooters in this incident. They were arrested by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Unit on January 22, 2024, and charged with the homicide of Steven Jesus Perez. Mercado Jr. was initially charged with premeditated murder but bonded out after his public defender filed a motion. He was arrested again on May 29, 2024, in Lake County, and charged with second-degree murder with a firearm, two counts of shooting into a building, and tampering with physical evidence. He is currently being held without bond in Osceola County.
Liam Nicholson was charged with second-degree murder as a principal and accessory after the fact. The incident is described as isolated and remains under investigation.
