Criminal Justice

A motorist shot and killed early Sunday after he allegedly attacked another driver in a road rage incident has been identified by authorities. He was a former Kutztown University basketball player.

The GEO Group, one of the world's largest private prison companies, publicly considered building a detention center in Upper Mount Bethel Township in 2010. The project instead went to Newark, where Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested earlier this year after seeking to tour the facility.

Authorities charged the Fountain Hill teen with three counts of aggravated assault, four counts of recklessly endangering others and a single count of carrying a firearm without a license.

The shooter fired a single shot after the other driver got out of his car and attacked him with a baseball bat, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office. The dead man is a 35-year-old from Whitehall, the coroner said.

The gunman showed up uninvited at a gathering outside a borough home late on the Fourth of July, borough police said. He fled after shooting three people as well as apparently accidentally shooting himself in the leg, the police chief said. The 18-year-old is being charged with several assault and weapons crimes.

The $2.75 million payment to the federal government resolves allegations that a pharmacy technician stole controlled substances on about 40 occasions and the health network failed to institute proper controls.

More than two years after the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students, the former Northampton Community College and DeSales University student pleaded guilty in a deal to avoid the death penalty.

Multiple media outlets report Bryan Kohberger has agreed to plead guilty to murdering four University of Idaho students as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty. A change of plea hearing is set for Wednesday. Kohberger’s trial had been set to begin in August

Jorge Gonzalez, 40, is accused of killing 85-year-old Elian Makdsi in October 2023 as he was in the intersection at North Jerome Street and Union Boulevard.

Christopher Fitzgerald was a former Lehigh County corrections officer and is the son of former Allentown Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. He was the first Temple University officer killed in the line of duty.

Newly appointed Hellertown Police Chief James Baitinger pledged to "work tirelessly and make a positive difference in the lives of people we serve and the lives of our police officers."

Lehigh County Commissioners in recent meetings discussed the need for action related to a dearth of beds for the county's detained juveniles.

Ethan Bastien, 22, should be released from Lehigh County Jail on Thursday, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Allegations include Vice detectives having relationships with prostitutes, stealing money during searches and interfering with local and federal investigations.

Authorities announced the arrest of a 55-year-old Whitehall man Saturday. The attack happened about 6:05 p.m. in the 1300 block of North 14th Street in Whitehall Township, authorities said.

An Easton woman has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty related to a shooting incident in Bethlehem, the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office announced Friday.

The Northampton County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday announced the arrest of Matthew Torres in connection with a fatal crash on Stefko Boulevard in Bethlehem.

The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office said Richard A. Costello, 65, was found dead at 9:37 a.m. at his home on Friday, Aug. 2. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the stomach.

A Hellertown man was arrested Saturday after police say he stabbed his roommate multiple times. William Vera was charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.

A stabbing was reported around 3:15 a.m. Saturday on East Thomas Avenue, according to Hellertown police.

Evander Thompson, 30, is accused of fatally shooting Orlando Ibanez the morning of Sept. 23 at an apartment in the 500 block of West Allen Street.

Upper Macungie Township Police Sgt. Dathan Schlegel gave out 2,106 traffic citations in 2023, according to the Lehigh Valley DUI Highway Safety Taskforce.