In the early morning hours of January 18, 2020, a violent and targeted act unfolded on the westbound lanes of Route 80 in Lodi, New Jersey, claiming the life of 27-year-old Luis Perez of the Bronx. Perez was behind the wheel of his Honda Civic when a red BMW SUV pulled alongside his vehicle. Gunfire erupted from the SUV, striking Perez in the neck and chest. A passenger in his car, Jose Mercado, was also hit in the chest and was left in critical condition. A third individual in the Civic was unharmed and managed to call 911 in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
Investigators quickly determined that the shooting was not a random act of road rage but a deliberate and targeted killing. Their investigation led them to Long Island, New York, where they set up surveillance on a residence. A few days after the shooting, three men left the home in a white Ford Fusion. A police chase ensued, ending when the Ford crashed.
Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered a modified rifle that could be used as a machine gun and a sawed-off shotgun.
The occupants of the vehicle, identified as Kenneth Regan, 21, of Centereach, New York, and Douglas Coudrey, 21, of Eastport, New York, were taken into custody. A third man, Robert Plunkett, was also in the car. Authorities identified Regan as the driver of the BMW SUV that had followed Perez from New York into New Jersey, and Coudrey as the individual who fired the fatal shots. While a motive for the targeted killing was not immediately released, both Regan and Coudrey were charged with Perez's murder, two counts of attempted murder, and weapons offenses. Plunkett faced weapons possession charges in Suffolk County, New York. Following their arrest, Coudrey also faced charges for attempting to escape from police headquarters. Both he and Regan were slated for extradition to New Jersey to face the murder charges.
