Case of man accused in deadly Allentown shooting headed to trial | Allentown Area

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A man accused of shooting and killing another man in Allentown earlier this year is headed to trial.

Yaniel Fermin, 18, of Allentown, is charged with Homicide, Possession with Intent to Deliver, and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor, according to a news release from the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s office said the case will proceed to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas after a preliminary hearing that was held Wednesday before District Judge Karen C. Devine.

All charges were held for court, Devine ruled.

Fermin remains in Lehigh County Jail without bail, the DA’s office said.

His next hearing is a formal arraignment scheduled for 1:30 p.m. April 30 before Judge Douglas G. Reichley.

Fermin is charged with killing Jeomy Miguel Soto, 19, on Jan. 22 in the 500 block of West Washington Street, according to the news release.

The DA’s office said Soto died at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Muhlenberg of gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.

Around 9:15 p.m. on Jan. 22, Allentown Police were called to the area of West Washington Street for a report of a man who had been shot, authorities said.

A witness, whose name will not be released, told police he was with the victim at the time of the shootings, the DA’s office said. He told investigators they had met with a man he only knew as “Po” to collect money owed to him from the sale of THC vapes, the DA’s office said.

The DA’s office said “Po” was identified by police as Yaniel Fermin.

A fight began between Fermin and the witness after Fermin disagreed about the money owed, according to authorities.

During that fight, Fermin was in possession of a semiautomatic handgun and fired at least two shots, which struck Soto who was standing nearby, the DA’s office said.

A short time later, Fermin was a passenger inside a vehicle stopped by Allentown Police patrol officers in the area of 6th and West Cedar Streets, according to the DA’s office.

Inside that vehicle, close to Fermin, police found THC vapes, a large amount of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, according to the news release.

Fermin was taken into custody as a result of the vehicle stop and resulting drug charges, according to the DA’s office.

Although he was 17 at the time of his arrest, Fermin will face charges as an adult by Pennsylvania law at the discretion of the District Attorney, the DA’s office said.