An Allentown teen was arrested in connection with the Thursday night killing of Jeomy Soto.
Yaniel “Po” Fermin, 17, was arrested Friday afternoon and charged as an adult with criminal homicide, possession with intent to deliver and possession of a firearm by a minor, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office. He is being held in Lehigh County Jail without bail and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Jan. 30 in Lehigh County Central Court.
According to a witness interviewed by Allentown police, the incident that led to Soto’s death started Thursday evening, when the witness and Soto met Fermin to collect money Fermin had allegedly owed for the sale of THC vapes.
According to the witness, Fermin disagreed about the money owed and a fight broke out between Fermin and the witness. During that fight, Fermin pulled out a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun and fired at least two shots, which struck Soto, who was standing nearby.
At 9:16 p.m., just after shots rang out, Allentown police were called to the 500 block of West Washington Street for the shooting. When they arrived, officers found 19-year-old Soto suffering from gunshot wounds. Soto was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg. During an autopsy Friday by the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, Soto’s cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death was determined to be homicide.
Fermin was arrested during a vehicle stop near the area of 6th and West Cedar streets in Allentown, police said. Fermin was a passenger in the vehicle and patrol officers with the Allentown Police Department found THC vapes, a large quantity marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.
The district attorney’s office and the Allentown Police Department believe there is no continuing risk to the community arising out of this episode. However, the investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Allentown Police Department.