DA provides update on investigation

Allentown police and the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office are still investigating a shooting that left eight people injured in downtown Allentown Sunday night.

District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in a statement Wednesday morning that it was too early in the investigation into the shooting in the 100 block of North Seventh Street to report in detail what happened or whether anyone else will be charged.

“It was a chaotic crime scene with a lot of evidence that had to be processed and many witnesses that had to be interviewed,” his statement said.

According to police, several people shot at each other around 6:45 p.m. Eight people were hit by gunfire and one of the victims required life-saving surgery, authorities said. The shooting occurred near the city's annual Dominican Festival, which was taking place nearby.

As of Wednesday, only one person has been charged: Yunior Peralta-Quintana, 21, of Bethlehem. Allentown police said he was observed shooting at a group of people. He is charged with attempted murder and was remanded to the Lehigh County Jail without bail.

Responding police officers “attacked” the groups of people shooting at each other, but Holihan said Wednesday that investigators do not believe any of the victims were shot by the two officers who fired their weapons. Prosecutors said none of the eight people suffered life-threatening injuries and no police officers were injured.

Holihan said his office would not comment on the motive at this time.

Originally published: August 28, 2024 at 9:19 am