A 16-year-old has been arrested by Easton police on charges of shooting six individuals at a birthday celebration at a local residence.
Six counts of felony criminal attempt to commit homicide, six counts of felony aggravated assault, one count of felony minor possession of a firearm, and six counts of misdemeanor reckless endangerment are all pending against Yandiel Onil Gonzalez, 16, of Easton.
In this case, Gonzalez is being tried as an adult.
According to Easton Police Lt. Matthew Gerould, Gonzalez surrendered himself to police at the station on Wednesday morning. Daniel G. Corpora, the district judge, denied Gonzalez bail when he was arraigned. After that, he was brought to the Northampton County Prison.
Dante Taegotti Holmes-Eutsey, 20, of Easton, his co-defendant, is accused with six counts of felony criminal attempt to commit homicide and other connected offenses.
Due to separate allegations arising from an Allentown incident, Holmes-Eutsey is currently being held at the Lehigh County Jail. He is anticipated to be arraigned later on the most current charges.
Steven Richard Mills, Holmes-Eutsey’s defense lawyer from Easton, was not immediately available for comment Wednesday afternoon. Gonzalez’s lawyer information was not available.
According to Gerould, investigators determined that Holmes-Eutsey was an accomplice and Gonzalez was the shooter in the 1:30 p.m. July 12 incident.
The house in the 100 block of East Wilkes Barre Street was the scene of the shooting. According to local police, a woman who was discovered with a gunshot wound to her back was treated at a nearby hospital.
Five other individuals were sent to nearby hospitals with comparable gunshot wounds. According to police, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
According to court documents, investigators discovered numerous gunshot hits on the property and seized several expended Hornady 300 Blackout rifle casings.
According to court documents, investigators investigated the house just before 2:30 a.m. the next day and found blood all over it along with property damage and multiple 9 mm gun shells.
On July 12, video security tape captured a group of people gathering on a back patio for an 18th birthday celebration. Just before 11:30 p.m., two men who police later identified as Holmes-Eutsey and Gonzalez approached the group.
In the affidavit of probable cause, Gonzalez is depicted with a mask covering his face. The evidence and witness statements against a defendant are laid forth in the court record.
According to court documents, Holmes-Eutsey was prevented from joining the party by the host. According to court documents, Gonzalez is then seen adjusting a rifle’s charging handle, drawing it back, and chambering a bullet.
Gonzalez allegedly positioned the firearm and got ready to shoot. The camera footage shows a muzzle flash and multiple shots, according to local police.
Then we see the porch partygoers running for safety. According to city police, the suspects swiftly escaped in a silver Audi A4.
According to the police, the 300 Hornady casings were discovered in a location that was consistent with where they would rest after being ejected from Gonzalez’s gun. According to municipal police, a man who knew the accused bought the ammunition from a nearby gun store.
At this time, the man is not facing any charges related to the event.
On July 13, a witness informed investigators that the suspects were told to leave the party after not being invited. Gonzalez was shot at the group after being attacked by some of the partygoers a few weeks earlier, according to police, which was revealed to detectives by another witness on July 14.
According to court documents, Holmes-Eutsey allegedly threatened to shoot up the party before he arrived, according to one of the partygoers. According to authorities, Holmes-Eutsey was recognized as the other suspect in a photo lineup by another witness.
During a July 22 interview with municipal police inspectors, Holmes-Eutsey allegedly acknowledged attending the party, running to his Audi following the gunfire, and then leaving.
Gonzalez allegedly denied knowing Holmes-Eutsey in a July 22 interview with city police inspectors, even though his cellphone records revealed that the two had corresponded. According to municipal police, Gonzalez also told a juvenile probation official that he was playing video games in his room at home the night of the shooting.
Gonzalez is expected to return to court for Corpora’s preliminary hearing, which is tentatively set for 10 a.m. on August 27. After that, a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.
The investigation into the incident is still open and ongoing, Gerould said on Wednesday. Detective Domenique Price of the Easton Police Department can be reached at 610-250-6637.
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You can contact Pamela Sroka-Holzmann at [email protected].
