[ad_1]
WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – A man was arrested for a shooting at a Walmart in Whitehall Township on Friday night that left a woman dead, police said.
District Attorney Jim Martin and Whitehall Township Police Chief Michael Marks announced on Sunday that Edward Joel Rosario-Jimenez, 23, of Whitehall, is charged with felony homicide, attempted murder and aggravated assault; all crimes of the first degree; and the firearm should not be carried without a license, a third degree felony, officials said.
At approximately 6:55 p.m. on Friday, Whitehall Township Police were called with a report of gunfire in the Walmart parking lot in the 2600 block of MacArthur Road.
Upon arrival, police found two victims near a parked vehicle with the engine still running in the parking lot.
The two victims were wounded by gunshot wounds, one died later from the wounds and a second is under medical treatment. The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office has ruled on the death of this victim, whose identity was only revealed as Jane Doe, a homicide.
Officials said investigators were able to obtain and review CCTV footage from the Walmart store showing the victim’s vehicle arriving and parking in an area of the merchandise pickup lot.
Within minutes, a black Toyota sport utility vehicle entered and parked directly in front of the victim’s vehicle, officials said.
Several victims were questioned by the police. Their identities will not be revealed.
Officials say a witness told police she went to the Walmart parking lot to pick up her child, who is also the child of one of the shooting victims.
The witness told police that she arrived in the Toyota with Rosario-Jimenez and two other people and that Rosario-Jimenez had an argument with one of the victims. The witness told police she heard gunshots and left in the Toyota, but Rosario-Jimenez remained in the parking lot.
Another witness told police he saw Rosario-Jimenez shoot the victims several times, police said.
Police say a handgun was found hidden in a snowbank next to where the shooting took place.
Officials point out, as in any criminal case, the fact that an arrest has taken place or that a complaint has been filed is only an accusation; and the accused, Edward Joel Rosario-Jimenez, is presumed innocent until and unless his guilt is proven.
Edward J. Rosario-Jimenez was also arrested in a previous shooting incident on September 14, 2019, on a single count of simple assault, reckless endangerment and terrorist threats.
[ad_2]
Source link