In a tragic turn of events on a Friday evening in Camden, New Jersey, 38-year-old Iris Sanchez, a mother and grandmother, lost her life in her own home. On April 1, 2016, police were called to the 1100 block of North 18th Street around 5:30 p.m. for a report of a woman who had been shot. Upon their arrival, they discovered Sanchez suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
She was quickly transported to Cooper University Hospital, but tragically succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead a short time later.
The investigation swiftly pointed to a suspect distressingly close to home: her own son. Authorities identified 22-year-old Pedro Mercado as the alleged gunman in his mother's death. While the motive for the fatal shooting was not immediately clear, a relative mentioned that Sanchez and her son had a history of a 'rocky' relationship. Mercado fled the residence after the shooting, prompting a search by law enforcement.
A few hours after the incident, around 8:00 p.m., officers located and arrested Mercado near Haddon and Benson Streets. He was taken into custody without further incident. Later, a Camden County grand jury indicted Mercado on charges of murder, as well as two weapons counts and an aggravated assault charge in connection with his mother's death. The case then moved into the hands of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office as the investigation continued.
