Elijah Ceballos, 17, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in the death of Fernando Guerreo Tabera of Third Street.
According to a statement from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan:
Police were called to the victim’s home around 5:07 p.m. on May 28 and found Guerreo Tabera on an outside patio chair with multiple gunshot wounds to his torso, leg and chin. First responders provided life-saving measures, but Guerrero Tabera died from his injuries.
Guerreo Tabera’s death was due to multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County coroner.
The investigation included home surveillance footage that showed the victim sitting on his porch facing the street. A person, later identified as Ceballos, was spotted on the video wearing a dark-colored hoodie, jeans and boots.
The video shows Ceballos point a gun at the victim and walk away with the weapon still in his hand. Police did not say if Ceballos and the victim knew each other.
Investigators found 16 spent 9-millimenter shell casings on the street and on the patio in front of the victim, prosecutors said. A witness told police he believed Ceballos may have taken a firearm from his home that had been used in the shooting.
The witness said Ceballos had entered a Main Street home after the shooting. Police later found clothing and a 9mm firearm believed to be linked to the killing at that address.
Prosecutors say a second witness told police he heard the gunshots outside and saw Ceballos with a gun and ski mask. That witness took the gun away from Ceballos, according to the DA’s office.
Ceballos is charged with homicide and several gun-related offenses, including possession of a firearm by a minor. He is being held in the county jail without bail.
Ceballos’ attorneys from the Lehigh County Public Defender’s Office declined to comment Wednesday.