An Allentown man faces decades in prison for his involvement in a homicide last year at a city park.
Carlos Landesta-Agramonte, 20, was sentenced to 20 to 40 years in prison for the June 1, 2024, fatal shooting of Angel Martinez-Velez at Fountain Park, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan.
Landesta-Agramonte is one of five people charged in the killing of 25-year-old Martinez-Velez, who was shot while playing basketball at the park on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive that day. Landesta-Agramonte pleaded guilty in September to third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit that offense.
Grelvis Estevez Cabrera, 29, of Bethlehem, was convicted on homicide and related charges in October. He will be sentenced in December.
Alfeni Romero-Taveras, 23, of Allentown; Joel Garcia-Paulino, 22, of Allentown; and Wilmer E. Marte-Tavarez, 23, of Lords Valley, Pike County, also are charged and await trial.
Allentown police said witnesses saw two gunmen in distinct clothing flee the shooting scene in a vehicle. Additionally, a second vehicle was also in the area of Fountain Park during the shooting, court documents state.
Authorities said Romero-Taveras was one of the gunmen. The suspects fled in two different vehicles, according to detectives, who seized those vehicles. Detectives discovered clothing and masks that matched the description given by witnesses to the shooting, authorities said.
One witness told authorities that prior to the shooting, several people at an apartment 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.
The other three men awaiting trial remain in Lehigh County Jail without bail.