The gunman in a 2024 murder plot over a love affair involving the victim has pleaded guilty and faces decades in prison.
Christian Martinez-Ramos, 36, of Allentown, is the third and final person charged in the homicide last Dec. 7 to plead guilty, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan and Whitehall Township police Chief Michael Marks said in a news release Monday.
Killed in the incident about 6 p.m. in the parking lot of Loco Hot Deals, 1155 MacArthur Road in Whitehall, was 46-year-old Hector Garcia Gomez, of Palmerton in Carbon County.
Co-defendants Liz Marie Pacheco, 38, of Allentown, and Brenda Rodriguez, 52, also of Palmerton, have also pleaded guilty to charges in the case.
Garcia Gomez and Rodriguez were married. Pacheco earlier had informed Rodriguez that Garcia Gomez was having an affair with a woman who lived near Pacheco and Martinez-Ramos, who were in a relationship, according to investigators.
After he was shot, while en route to the hospital, Garcia Gomez called the woman he had been having an affair with and said “the guy from upstairs shot me,” court records state.
The gunfire occurred after Garcia Gomez pulled into the parking lot and entered the store. Rodriguez was with him but stayed in the car, appearing to be on her phone, investigators said video surveillance showed.
“The investigation revealed that Rodriguez was providing information via cellphone detailing her husband’s location to Liz Marie Pacheco,” Holihan’s office said in a news release. “Pacheco then relayed the location to Christian Martinez-Ramos, who arrived minutes later to the parking lot.
“The investigation showed that as Garcia Gomez left the store and began to get inside his car, Martinez-Ramos drove his vehicle through the parking lot and parked behind Garcia Gomez. Gunshots were fired at Garcia Gomez by Martinez-Ramos from his vehicle, striking Garcia Gomez multiple times.
“After Garcia Gomez was shot, video surveillance showed Rodriguez remained inside the car for more than 22 seconds. Rodriguez eventually got out of the car, adjusted her clothing and hair and picked up several items before slowly walking into the store.”
Garcia Gomez died of multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide.
Martinez-Ramos admitted to shooting Garcia Gomez before fleeing in a friend’s car, which he then abandoned on the side of a road, investigators had said.
Pacheco was aware of her ex-boyfriend’s intentions and assisted in both the planning and attempted cover-up, investigators said, including assisting with the sale of the vehicle used by Martinez-Ramos during the killing.
Martinez-Ramos on Monday pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy. Lehigh County Judge Robert L. Steinberg sentenced him to 30-60 years in state prison.
Pacheco pleaded guilty earlier this month to third-degree murder and was sentenced to five to 10 years in state prison. Rodriguez pleaded guilty in September to a charge of conspiracy; she is scheduled for sentencing on Nov. 5.
The murder was investigated by Whitehall Township police Detective Lindsay Yetter and Lehigh County Homicide Task Force Detectives Timothy Salgado, James Bruchak and Amaury Almonte. Lehigh County Senior Deputy District Attorney James A. Augustine prosecuted the case.
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