Overview
- A Duval County jury found Mario Fernandez Saldana guilty of first‑degree murder and solicitation on Aug. 26, 2026, in the 2022 roadside ambush that killed Jared Bridegan.
- Bridegan was shot after stopping to remove a tire on Feb. 16, 2022, with his 2‑year‑old daughter in the back seat; investigators say the tire was used to stage the ambush.
- Prosecutors presented DNA from the tire, a matching tire found at a rental property, and three checks totaling $10,000 written to the alleged gunman as core links tying Fernandez Saldana to the attack.
- The alleged shooter, Henry Tenon, initially pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate but later withdrew his plea and is set to stand trial in 2027; jury selection for accused ex‑wife Shanna Gardner begins at the end of August and her trial is scheduled for early September.
- Fernandez Saldana faces life in prison because Florida first‑degree murder is a capital felony, his sentencing scheduling is set for Oct. 5, 2026, and prosecutors and victims’ family members say the verdict provides a preview of the evidence they will use in the remaining cases.