A fifth person has been charged in a shooting at an Allentown park last year that left a 25-year-old man dead, according to authorities.
Alfeni Romero-Taveras, 22, of Allentown was arraigned Friday morning on charges of homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, and tampering with evidence, in the June 1, 2024, shooting at Fountain Park that killed Angel Martinez-Velez. He was sent to Lehigh County Jail without bail.
Joel Garcia-Paulino, 22, of Allentown; Grelvis Estevez Cabrera, 29, of Bethlehem; Carlos N. Landesta-Agramonte, 20, of Allentown; and Wilmer E. Marte-Tavarez, 23, of Lords Valley, Pike County, previously were charged in the killing.
Estevez Cabrera was found guilty earlier this month, and Landesta-Agramonte pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy. Garcia-Paulino, who was arrested earlier in October, and Marte-Tavarez await trial in the case.
Authorities said Romero-Taveras was one of the people who shot Martinez-Velez at the basketball court of the park on Marin Luther King Jr. Drive. They all fled in two different vehicles, according to court documents. Detectives seized those vehicles, and discovered clothing and masks that matched the description given by witnesses of the shooting, authorities said.
A witness told authorities the group had discussed shooting Martinez-Velez, and that Romero-Taveras was the one who shot him, police said. Romero-Taveras’ DNA was found on the mask and clothes discovered in the investigation, court documents state.
Originally Published: October 27, 2025 at 12:18 PM EDT