A New Jersey man faces charges alleging he opened fire in a restaurant, injuring two people late last week in Bethlehem.
Ashton Jordan Thomas, 18, of Stewartsville faces charges of attempted homicide in a shooting that injured two Friday morning at Sizzling Bites in South Side Bethlehem. He has not been arrested as of Monday, according to court records.
City police wrote in court documents that Thomas got into an argument with a group of people, and fired at them after one of them slapped him. A man and a woman were both hit by gunfire.
Thomas faces charges of attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault, carrying a firearm without a license and recklessly endangering another person.
Investigators, searching surveillance footage, said the following happened:
Thomas and his group got in an argument just after midnight outside the restaurant at 312 E. Third St.
Thomas entered the restaurant briefly, then returned outside. Shortly after, he went back into the restaurant while wearing a mask.
He walked around the restaurant and returned to the entrance, where the group he had argued with had moved to. A man in that group slapped Thomas, prompting a fight between them. During that time, Thomas pulled a handgun from his right pocket and fired five times. Thomas and two others then fled from the area.
Eight people were in the direct line of fire, and about 30 people were at the restaurant at the time.
Bethlehem police watched nearby surveillance footage and saw Thomas and his group get into a vehicle with a New Jersey registration. Investigators contacted Phillipsburg police, and a detective there identified Thomas and his group. In addition to the shooting, authorities said Thomas did not have a concealed carry permit.
The two people who were shot were treated at a nearby hospital and were listed in stable condition Friday morning, according to police.
Anyone with information on the shooting can contact police at 610-865-7000 or BethlehemPolice@bethlehem-pa.gov.