Man sentenced to 40 years in prison after deadly 2022 bar shooting in NJ

A New Jersey man was sentenced to decades behind bars after he was found guilty by a jury of murdering a man outside a bar in 2022, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office.

The shooting happened on Sept. 24, 2022, after the Villari’s Sports Bar closed for the night on Sicklerville Road in Sicklerville, New Jersey, police said.

When officers with the Franklin Township Police Department arrived to the scene, they found Chad Stuart, 31, lying on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound to his head.

Walter Gilliano, 28, was there and told police that he was the person who shot Stuart.

Investigators later discovered that Gilliano and Stuart had gotten into an argument after the bar closed while they were in the parking lot.

Gilliano is accused of getting into his car and driving away before returning with a gun minutes later.

A witness told police that they saw Gilliano shoot Stuart.

Stuart was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Gilliano was found guilty by a jury of murder and weapons charges after a trial that lasted for four weeks.

Then, on Thursday, May 7, a judge sentenced Gilliano to 40 years in state prison. According to the ruling, he must serve 34 years of the sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.