Franklinville man convicted of murder in bar fight where man was shot
Authorities said Gilliano told officers at the scene that he had shot Stuart. The investigation determined the two men argued in the parking lot after the bar closed.
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A Franklinville man was found guilty Tuesday of murder and weapons offenses in the 2022 fatal shooting of a man outside a bar, authorities said.
A jury convicted Walter Gilliano, 28, of first-degree murder and two related weapons charges following a four-week trial in Superior Court.
According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, officers with the Franklin Township Police Department responded Sept. 24, 2022 to Villari’s Sports Bar for a report of a gunshot victim. Chad Stuart, 31, of Clayton, was found in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the head, police said.
Authorities said Gilliano told officers at the scene that he had shot Stuart. The investigation determined the two men argued in the parking lot after the bar closed.
Gilliano left in his car and returned minutes later with a gun, and an eyewitness said he pointed the weapon at Stuart and fired, according to prosecutors. Stuart was taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries, police said.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 24. Gilliano faces life in state prison with a minimum of 30 years before parole eligibility on the murder conviction, and up to 10 years on each weapons count.
