Lehigh County DA Jim Martin has released his office's findings on a double shooting death in Allentown last month. Early in the morning of March 24th, Allentown police were called to East South Street. When they arrived, they found two men both shot and both with guns lying next to their bodies. Martin says the investigation indicates 21-year-old Yovanni Suazo and 42-year-old Alexander Perez-Sotomayor shot each other after Perez-Sotomayor and a neighbor confronted Suazo and another male, who they believed were breaking into cars in the neighborhood. At that point, video evidence shows Suazo pulls a gun and shot Perez-Sotomayor multiple times. Perez-Sotomayor fired off one shot, hitting and killing Suazo. The DA says since both Suazo and Perez-Sotomayor are dead and there's no evidence the male with Suazo was doing anything wrong and Perez-Sotomayor's neighbor did nothing illegal, there will be no charges filed in the case.
A federal jury has determined Easton policeman Aaron Kinnel used appropriate force when he pushed past a 71-year-old woman to take her son into custody during a block party that turned into a brawl. Ramona Colon claimed Kinnel slammed her to the ground, stepped on her and using a Taser on her as Kinnel tried to arrest her son during a July 2019 block party on Ferry Street. Colon had sued Kinnel, his supervisor, Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., police Chief Carl Scalzo and others, claiming her civil rights had been violated. All but Kinnel and his supervisor had been dropped as defendants prior to the trial. Tuesday night, the jury cleared both Kinnel and supervisor Ryan Celia.
Gov. Josh Shapiro is directing his administration to schedule Xylazine as a controlled substance. That requires manufacturers and distributors to verify that a doctor is not only licensed, but also authorized to receive that drug. The governor says Xylazine, in particular is a deadly problem. "The drug slows down your breathing and your heart rate. The combination of Xylazine and opioids can stop your heart and lungs entirely and overdose reversal drugs like Xylazine, because it's not an opioid," Shapiro says. When used as intended, Xylazine is used on large animals, like horses, and is not approved for any human use. Shapiro says more and more drug dealers are cutting opioids like fentanyl with Xylazine, making the high last longer but also potentially more deadly.
A school van driver and a child are recovering from injuries following an accident in Northampton County. The accident happened yesterday afternoon when a school van crashed into a utility pole, tree and a fence along Mountain View Drive in Lehigh Township. An East Stroudsburg man operating the vehicle was taken to a local hospital while a four-year-old child suffered minor injuries.
Northampton County DA Terry Houck says last Saturday's gun buyback program collected 248 guns. In exchange for the guns, $9000 worth of grocery gift cards were handed out. Among the guns turned over are 76 rifles, 65 revolvers and 56 shotguns. The guns will be destroyed, except for one gun that was reported stolen in California. That gun will be sent to the department investigating the gun theft. Guns were turned in at fire houses in Lower Saucon Township and Northampton. The donors were allowed to hand in the guns anonymously.
After 35 years, Joe's Pizza on Hamilton Boulevard in Trexlertown has closed. Joe's Pizza's last business day was Sunday. In a social media post, the business says customers with any remaining gift certificates can use them at Charles Pizza in Whitehall. Joe’s Pizza also had a location in Emmaus called Joe’s Pizza II, which closed last summer.
Earlier this week, Lehigh Valley Health Network made face masks optional for patients, visitors and employees in most areas of their facilities. LVHN maintains mandatory masks for NICU visitors, anyone with respiratory viral symptoms and in its cancer center and psychiatric units, among other venues.
Gas prices continue to go higher in both the Lehigh Valley and across the commonwealth. According to AAA East Central's newest report, Pennsylvania's average price for a gallon of gas stood at $3.77 as of Tuesday, seven cents higher than one week earlier, but 39 cents below the April 18, 2022 figure. In the Lehigh Valley, the average price is $3.72 a gallon, a dime higher than one week ago, but also 39 cents less than one year earlier.
If Pennsylvania native Bryan Kohberger is found guilty of first-degree murder for the death of four Idaho college students, he could be executed by a firing squad. Idaho's governor signed a law last month that makes Idaho the fifth state to permit executions by firing squad. First-degree murder is the only charge that qualifies a defendant for the death penalty in Idaho. The prosecutor in the county where Kohberger is jailed, hasn't said whether he will seek that for Kohberger, if he's convicted. His preliminary hearing is set for the end of June.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service say a Red Flag warning is in effect from now until sunset Wednesday. They say the conditions are right to create a very high risk for wildfires, especially with gusty winds that are expected during the day. Officials say a lack of leaves on the trees this time of year also contributes to the danger. That's because all the sunlight goes right to the ground to dry it out even more.