Pickells wife told police she and her husband went outside to walk the dog and noticed Leone breaking up furniture in front of his house. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The woman looked up from tending to her dog to see Pickell and Leone arguing in Leones driveway, according to court records. It will also be breezy and cool. Bethlehem Township officers were dispatched to assist a woman who appeared motionless outside a home on Dennis Street, but were met by a flurry of gunshots that led to a standoff and shelter in . Authorities are investigating a shooting that left a man dead Friday night in Allentown. Jurors got the case around 2:30 p.m. Monday and worked until about 9 p.m. Suspect charged in Bethlehem Township homicide, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. The Washington Broadcasting Co. Bethlehem Township man charged with criminal, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Human remains found in Stroudsburg identified as woman missing since last year, Bethlehem Township man charged with criminal homicide, shot neighbor in the back during argument, police say, Few leads, false alarms as search for Texas gunman drags on, Serena Williams reveals second pregnancy at Met Gala, At least 6 dead after dust storm causes crashes on Illinois highway, May Day: Worlds workers rally, France sees pension anger, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. To reach Bethlehem Township police in a non-emergency, call Northampton. During the home invasion, which occurred at approximately 4 a.m. in the 2000 block of Willow Park Road, four men broke into the residence where three occupants were present. A suspect was taken into custody without incident, police said. All rights reserved (About Us). Leone and family members in the courtroom broke down into tears as the verdict was read around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday. Once Leone was in custody, the shelter-in-place order was lifted and the schools taken out of lockdown. Caitlyn Marie Norder is being charged with felony possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and felony conspiracy to commit possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, as well as misdemeanor heroin possession in the March 23 incident. Mother of man slain in Bethlehem Township shooting says he was best Bethlehem Twp. Theres one way in and one way out of Clifton Avenue, a man noted to lehighvalleylive.com, saying residents immediately can spot something out of the ordinary. He was a loving son and a loving father, Pickell said, her voice breaking with emotion. They, along with Delgado, were in custody. It is such a tragedy for any area, but here, people are in shock, said a female resident in the 3000 block of Clifton Avenue. Police said there is no danger to anyone residing in the area. In the 911 call after the shooting, Leone repeatedly made the same claim that Pickell was a member of the biker gang. : Local economists weigh in after 3rd bank failure in last 2 months, Baby alligator temporarily staying in the Poconos after being found at sewage plant in Allentown, LVHN offering 2nd dose of bivalent COVID-19 booster shot for people 65 and older, immunocompromised people, Work to replace busy bridge connecting Lehigh, Northampton counties is underway; there's some good news for commuters, Allentown Service Plaza to close at night during the week as crews do paving work, High Delaware River water levels lead to additional safety requirements at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area this week, Gov. This is just devastating.. This is usually a quiet neighborhood. This was first-rate work by the Bethlehem Township Police Department. A day after a shooting that left one man dead in the driveway of a Bethlehem Township home, the slain mans mother is asking the same question as the investigators who charged a neighbor with firing the fatal shot. Bethlehem Township - Northampton County, Pennsylvania She said she was tending to the dog when she looked up and saw Pickell and Leone arguing in Leones driveway. Officials said the affidavit spelling out the circumstances of the case will remain sealed to protect the investigation. L. TOWAMENSING TWP., Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police are asking for help locating the person responsible for a shooting in Carbon County. 2023 The Washington Broadcasting Co. All Rights Reserved. He was then shot by the resident one time in the torso. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Pickells girlfriend said he was prompted to go across the street because Leone was acting strangely, playing loud music and using a hatchet and machete to break up furniture in the driveway. Santiago remained at large, though police said they dont believe there is any danger to the public. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann | For lehighvalleylive.com, shooting left 31-year-old Kenneth Pickell dead, 2000 to today: The best Lehigh Valley high school football players of the past two decades. After about eight hours of deliberation that. Are other banks to follow? As investigators look for answers, so do the people who live in the community. After about eight hours of deliberation that began Monday afternoon, the jury found Joshua Leone, 36, not guilty in the Feb. 23, 2021 death of Kenneth Pickell, 31. Police investigating after person found dead in Bethlehem Twp. {Morning Call file photo) Seconds after fatally shooting his neighbor, a . State Police were seen investigating on Hahns Dairy Road in Lower Towamensing Township, as of . Pickells wife reported the couple was walking around the residential neighborhood and found Leone allegedly breaking up furniture in front of his home. Based on the length of [the jurys] deliberations, I made them think.. Neighbors said they didnt really know the Pickells, but described Leone, his wife and their two young children as nice people. She reportedly told police she could see things were getting out of hand and that she walked over to the driveway of the home to plead with her husband to walk away, police wrote. He died at the scene a short time later. She told police Josh had shot her husband, according to the affidavit of probable cause for charging Leone. Two of the men were shot by an occupant of the house,. Bethlehem Twp. man will claim self-defense in deadly shooting She spotted Leones wife walking the streets alone and hysterical during the incident and brought her inside her own home to take refuge. Are other banks to follow? There was an error processing your request. Pickells wife told investigators she pleaded with her husband to walk away, police said. Its wild, neighbor Justin Rolands said. LOWER TOWAMENSING TWP., Pa. -- A rural road in Carbon County was shut down following a shooting. Pickells wife also witnessed Leone holding a shotgun and a revolver and that Kenneth Pickell began to turn around and that is when she saw Leone shoot her husband in the back, court records state. Police then came to believe 27-year-old Anthony Joel Espinal, of the 200 block of East Third Street in Bethlehem, was staying there. "I'm just so sad and heartbroken. homicide. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Standoff in Bethlehem Township after shots fired at police Bethlehem Twp. Bethlehem Police Department, Bethlehem, PA - Facebook Leone was arraigned Tuesday night before District Judge Jacqueline Taschner on a single count of criminal homicide, and was sent to Northampton County Prison without the possibility of bail. Bethlehem Township man acquitted of all charges in shooting death of He told me once, Mom, I love that guy like a brother. Those two were the best of friends, Pickell said. neighbors. His. Instead, the verdict sided with Leone, who contended he was justified in fatally shooting Pickell, who lived across the street from Leone on Clifton Avenue. Bethlehem Township Police Officer John Meehan spent five years as a cop in Baltimore, a city that has one of the highest crime rates in the country and in 2017 set a new homicide record. According to the criminal complaint, Pickell's wife told the police that her husband had gotten into an argument with Leone and when Pickell turned to leave, Leone fatally shot him in the back. Pickells family left the courtroom immediately after the verdict. A resident told 69 News gunshots were heard in the area around 2:45 p.m. Police say man charged in Bethlehem Twp. homicide shot victim in the Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Strunk, of Stroudsburg, is charged with Criminal Homicide, Possession of an Instrument of Crime, and Firearm Not to be Carried without a License. Intruders shot in Bethlehem Township home invasion, 1 of 4 suspects at Woman facing charges after boyfriend's drugs, gun used in shooting I got to know my client really well in the past few years, and I was convinced of his innocence.. The Northampton County coroner has been called to a shooting in Bethlehem Township, and one person is in custody, dispatchers and police said. DA: Resident shot 2 home invaders | Lehigh Valley Regional News | wfmz.com Hes being held without bail in Northampton County Jail. Anyone who made have surveillance video of the surrounding area should contact Bethlehem Township police, Houck said. About two hours before the shooting, Leone called township police and claimed Pickell was a Hells Angel and had been watching him. Bethlehem Township officer involved in standoff: 'My instincts kicked Lehigh Valley man who fired gun due to Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania There were also no fingerprints on the ax, he noted. Daniel Patrick Sheehan is a reporter covering crime and courts in the Lehigh Valley. man will claim self-defense in deadly shooting, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. The suspects were identified as Millito Delgado, 45; Michael Matas, 29; Francis Ferrando, 23; and Anthony Santiago, 29. Bethlehem, PA News - The Morning Call Amber Walters says she knows one of the neighbors involved. Neighbors said the shooting brought a sense of uncertainty to what is normally a safe area. Jeremy Anderson later said on scene. Police looking for tips on shooting that left a Bethlehem man dead Police said a suspect was taken into custody without incident. Bethlehem Twp. The day after a shooting left 31-year-old Kenneth Pickell dead in his neighbors driveway, the victims mother said what led to the suspected gunman opening fire on her son remains a mystery. Were just in a state of shock because Josh is the nicest person, the kindest person, she said. Target parking lot shooting leaves 1 person dead in Lower Nazareth Suspect shot seven times in botched home invasion in Bethlehem A suspect was taken into custody without incident, police said. In an act of self-defense, one of the occupants shot defendants Matas and Ferrando. Her sister-in-law lives across the street from Leone and heard the gunshot. Im disappointed, Augustine said following the verdict. Those questions have left Pickells mother, Leanne Pickell, reeling. The shooting occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. in the 3100 block of Clifton Avenue, a news release states. Authorities charged Joshua Leone with a single count of homicide. What led to Justin Kephart, a Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania son fatally shooting his mother before shooting himself dead after 8 hour police stand-off? Bethlehem Township police charged Joshua A. Leone with a single count of homicide in connection with the fatal shooting of Kenneth Pickell in the 3100 block of Clifton Avenue Tuesday. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The man attempted to get into a home on. No other information is being released at this time. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. homicide shot victim in the back, Suspect charged in Bethlehem Township homicide, In-person Bethlehem Township municipal meetings to resume in June, Bethlehem Township proposes special permits for large events, Testimony begins at trial of man charged in neighbor's shooting death, 'Can't wait to see everyone': After 3-year hiatus, beloved Easton deli nears reopening, How do you know your money is safe? Leone was farther from Pickell than Goldman claimed and shot him in the back, Augustine said, dismissing the claim Pickell was in the process of throwing the ax. The resident said the victim has not lived in the neighborhood for very long. 1:10. At approximately 6:37 a.m. Stark County Sheriff's Deputies were called to the 9500 block of Sherman Church Avenue SW in Bethlehem Township in response to an individual who had been . The events leading to the Feb. 23, 2021 slaying were partially captured by the security camera on Leones home. West New York teen charged with sexual asssault of 12-year-old girl, Baby owl found alongside road healthy enough to be re-nested, Holmdel Police Senior Assassin game going a bit too far, cautions students, Cambridge Man Charged with Attempted Murder and Child Abuse, Successful Hauppauge gun buyback nets 462 guns, NYPD releases photo of suspect wanted for slashing 15-year-old boys face during robbery, Man robbed of necklace at gunpoint in the Bronx, 67-year-old man sleeping on NYC subway train woken up, beat with stick, Shooting in Northeast DC Leaves Teen Hospitalized, Hollywood studios say talks with writers have ended with no deal. County District Attorney Terry Houck said an autopsy will determine the victim's exact cause of death, and said he could not confirm whether a gun was involved in the incident. I just don't understand," saidDiane McDaniel, who has lived in the development in Bethlehem Township for more than 40 years. Man killed in apparent neighbor dispute in Bethlehem Township, DA says App of the Day: Poolsuite FM, What the Tech? Mostly cloudy with some occasional showers moving through. The woman told police Josh, later identified as Leone, shot her husband. Two of the men were shot by an occupant of the house, leaving one in critical condition, and a third remained at large Thursday afternoon. They reconnected years later as neighbors The womans three children play with Leones two children and Leone attended church services with her family and has helped with landscaping. He was flown from the scene by medical helicopter. The victims were transported to local hospitals,. 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Around 4 a.m. Thursday, four men conducted a home invasion in the 2000 block of Willow Park Road in Bethlehem Township, according to the DA's office. Gets a little rowdy on Fourth of July, but otherwise quiet., This is a neighborhood where something like this doesnt happen, she said. standoff: Neighbor finds wounded woman, gets pinned by gunfire Hear the shots that sent Bethlehem Twp. BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. The attorney for a Northampton County man accused of shooting and killing a neighbor during a dispute claims the killing is "a classic case of self defense.". I wanted to console her, Dominguez said. Motive in Bethlehem Township deadly shooting a - lehighvalleylive BETHLEHEM, OH - The Stark County Sheriff's Office is currently investigating a shooting that occurred in Bethlehem Township on Wednesday, December 29th, 2021. Joshua Anthony Leone, of the 3100. Pickell fell to the ground and began to bleed, having suffered a significant gunshot wound to the left upper back area, the police investigator wrote in court papers. Hours later, at 6:30 p.m., police were still on scene. State Police Washington are investigating a shooting late Sunday night In East Bethlehem Township. Police: 2 killed in Chestnut Hill shooting believed to be murder-suicide '115 gunshots' Bethlehem Township man shoots mother and then self dead DA: Person in custody after Bethlehem Twp. EAST BETHLEHEM, Pa. (KDKA) - Police said a man was shot trying to break into his ex-girlfriend's home in Washington County. Image via Facebook. Man killed in apparent neighbor dispute in Bethlehem Township, DA says. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Pickells wife told police she, her husband and their dog exited the home to go for a walk and saw Leone breaking up furniture in front of his house, the affidavit states. That shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the 500 block of Longacre Drive in the Cherryville section of Lehigh Township. They could be seen through a second-floor window taking pictures inside. East Bethlehem Township Shooting Under Investigation . Leone exited the home with his hands in the air and was taken into custody. Police said a suspect was taken into custody without incident. Police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting shortly after 2:30 p.m. in the 3100 block of Clifton Avenue in Bethlehem Township.