Walter Gilliano, 28, of Franklinville, was sentenced to 40 years in state prison Thursday by the Honorable Roger Lai for first-degree murder and related weapons charges stemming from the 2022 shooting of Chad Stuart in the parking lot of a Franklin Township bar.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in open court: On Sept. 24, 2022, officers from the Franklin Township Police Department arrived at Villari’s Sports Bar for reports of a gunshot wound. The victim, Chad Stuart, 31, of Clayton, was lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the head. Gilliano told officers he had shot Stuart. The investigation revealed that Gilliano and the victim had argued in the parking lot after the bar closed. The defendant then got into his car and drove away only to return a few minutes later with a gun. An eyewitness told police that Gilliano pointed the gun at the victim and shot him. The victim was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries.
A jury found Gilliano guilty of first-degree murder and two related weapons charges on March 3, 2026. Under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act, Gilliano must serve 34 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
“The jury’s verdict and today’s sentence reflect the gravity of this senseless act of violence,” Prosecutor Andrew B. Johns said. “While no outcome can undo the loss
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suffered by the victim’s family and loved ones, our office remains committed to pursuing justice for victims, supporting their families, and holding violent offenders accountable.”
The State was represented by Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Katherine Mika and Chief Assistant Prosecutor Alec Gutierrez.
Prosecutor Johns thanked the GCPO Major Crimes and Crime Scene Investigation Units, the New Jersey State Police Ballistics and Forensic Laboratory, and Franklin Township Police for their assistance in the investigation.
Defense Counsel: Christopher St. John and Tess Berkowitz of The Law Offices of Christopher St. John in Marlton, NJ.