ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A 17-year-old has been charged with homicide in a shooting death Thursday night in the city, officials said.
Yaniel Fermin, of Allentown, is charged with homicide, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances and possession of a firearm by a minor in the shooting death of 19-year-old Jeomy Miguel Soto on Thursday night.
Fermin was taken into custody Friday — less than 24 hours after the shooting "due to the cooperation and around the clock efforts of The Allentown Police Department and the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force," county District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announced in a news release Saturday.
Fermin, who turns 18 next month, is in Lehigh County Jail without bail, they said. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Jan. 30 in Lehigh County Central Court.
Despite being a juvenile, Fermin was arrested as an adult on all charges as permitted by Pennsylvania law at the discretion of the district attorney, authorities said.
Police: Fight over THC vapes
The release said that at 9:16 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, Allentown police were called to the 500 block of West Washington Street
for a report of a man who had been shot in the back of a residence.
Officers found Soto suffering from gunshot wounds. He died at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg and the Lehigh County Coroner ruled his death a homicide.
A witness told police he was with Soto at the time of the shooting and met with a man he only knew as “Po” to collect money owed to him for the sale of THC vapes.Lehigh County District Attorney's Office release
A witness, whose name police said will not be released, told authorities he was with Soto at the time of the shooting and met with a man he only knew as “Po” to collect money owed to him for the sale of THC vapes.
“Po” later was identified by police as Fermin.
Fermin disagreed about the money owed and a fight ensued between Fermin and the witness, police said.
During that fight, Fermin had a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and fired at least two shots that hit Soto, who was standing nearby, police said.
Possession of a 9mm semiautomatic handgun by a juvenile is illegal in Pennsylvania, the district attorney said.
'No continuing risk to community'
On Friday, Fermin was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Allentown Police Department officers near Sixth and West Cedar streets, according to the news release.
Inside that vehicle, police found THC vapes, a large amount of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia near Fermin, they said.
"This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Allentown Police Department."Lehigh County District Attorney's office release
As a result of the vehicle stop and the resulting drug charges, Fermin was in custody about 12:30 p.m. Friday, and the investigation continued.
"In light of the facts known to law enforcement at this point and the rapid progress of the investigation, it is our belief that there is no continuing risk to the community arising out of this criminal episode," authorities said in the release.
"This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Allentown Police
Department."
