A routine night for a block captain turns deadly as he ended up involved in a shootout with a group of alleged car robbers he confronted. NBC10’s Deanna Durante, live in Allentown, shares the latest details of the current criminal investigation.
Two people died in the Lehigh Valley after a resident confronted people trying to open car doors in the middle of the night, Allentown police said.
The deadly exchange of gunfire took place around 1:30 a.m. Friday along East South Street, near South Austin Street, police said in a news release.
People were "attempting to open car doors of parked vehicles" when a nearby resident, the block captain of the street, confronted them, police said. An exchange of gunfire then ensued. Police said one of the people trying to break into the cars and the resident were shot.
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Officers arrived to find two people bleeding from gunshot wounds, police said. The officers administered first aid, but it was too late and both people died.
Investigators continued to search for clues Friday and said there was no further "physical danger to the community at this time."
This deadly shooting came after another deadly shooting on North 4th Street on Thursday night. Mayor Matt Tuerk said he is "sad to see the loss of life in our City over the past day."
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"My heart goes out to the mothers and children of those we lost and I understand the fear and frustration felt by our neighbors. We are hurting, but I trust Allentonians to find a path to healing."
They asked anyone with information to contact police investigators at 610-437-7721 or leave an anonymous tip on the department's Tip411 app.
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