ALLENTOWN, Pa. — An Allentown man charged in a fatal shooting outside a child's birthday party in 2024 has been sentenced to more than a decade in state prison.
Roberto Gonzalez, 26, was sentenced Thursday by Lehigh County Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks to 11 ½ to 28 years in the Feb. 17, 2024, death of Miguel S. Dalmasi, 33, of Alburtis.
The sentencing was announced in a news release from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.
Gonzalez on Sept. 2 pleaded guilty to felony charges of voluntary manslaughter-unreasonable belief and possession of firearm prohibited.
Gonzalez was charged July 8, 2024.
Just before 8 p.m. that day, police were called to South Dauphin and East Walnut streets where a birthday party had been occurring nearby for a 1-year-old child.
Details of the crime
Holihan's release gave this account of the crime:
The investigation revealed that before the shooting, several unknown men wearing ski masks and hooded sweatshirts gathered outside the East Side Fire Social Hall at 405 E. Walnut St., where the party was being held.
One of the men involved in the dispute, later identified as Gonzalez, pulled out a firearm during the physical fight and fired several shots, striking Dalmasi.News release from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan
A dispute between those who arrived at the social hall and people attending the party resulted.
Dalmasi, a relative of the 1-year-old, went outside the hall to mediate the dispute and a fight broke out.
One of the men involved in the dispute, later identified as Gonzalez, pulled out a firearm during the physical fight and fired several shots, striking Dalmasi.
It later was discovered that the firearm had been altered with a device that let it fire as a fully automatic firearm.
Evidence showed 18 rounds were fired in a few seconds, consistent with the device commonly called a “Glock switch.”
Identifying the shooter
Dalmasi died from multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County coroner.
Several spent shell casings were recovered at the scene and analyzed by Detective Mark Garrett with the Lehigh County Firearm and Tool Mark Laboratory.
Gonzalez was identified by witnesses, whose names, because of safety concerns, authorities did not release, and by video footage from area cameras and Allentown’s Flock Safety cameras in the area.News release from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan
Garrett determined all the casings came from the same firearm.
Gonzalez was identified by witnesses, whose names, because of safety concerns, authorities did not release.
Video footage from area cameras and Allentown’s Flock Safety cameras in the area also identified Gonzalez.
This case was investigated by Allentown Police Patrol Sgt. Raymond Ferraro and Lehigh County Homicide Task Force Detective Timothy Salgado.
It was prosecuted by Chief of Prosecutions Patricia Fuentes Mulqueen and Senior Deputy District Attorney Kevin P. McCloskey.
