Police have arrested a 21-year-old man after a shooting incident that took place in Allentown on Sunday, Aug.25.
Officials said they arrested Yunior Peralta-Quintana, of Bethlehem, for his alleged involvement in this shooting. Quintana has been charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault and other offenses.
On Sunday, Allentown Mayor Matthew Tuerk said his office is aware of the shooting that took place on the 100 block of N. 7th Street.
In a Monday update, Allentown police officials said that the incident happened at about 6:46 p.m. when multiple gunshots were reported at a parking lot.
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Officials said officers responded to find "several people actively shooting at each other" and the officers engaged the shooters.
"This was a chaotic crime scene with a lot of evidence to process and many witnesses to interview," Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Halihan said in a statement.
According to the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office, two police officers ultimately discharged their weapons
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Officials said eight people were hurt in the shooting and that they are all expected to survive.
The initial investigation revealed that the shots fired by the officers did not hit any of the victims, Holihan explained.
NBC10 obtained surveillance footage that shows the moments the shots were fired between what appears to be two men.
In the video, it appears a group of men got into an altercation when a man in a tan shirt pushed another man and then pulled out a gun and started shooting. That is when another man in a black shirt takes out a gun and returns fire as the surrounding people run and take cover.
The men continue shooting at each other until a police officer approaches.
Police have not said if the man arrested was one of the men seen in the video shooting at each other.
Quintana is currently at the Lehigh County jail. He was denied bail.
A neighbor in the area said she heard at least 12 shots fired.
“The amount of kids around here, the amount of kids on my own street like that’s terrifying. And it was supposed to be a celebration last night. It's just awful," Megan Silver, a neighbor, said.
The Dominican Festival was taking place in downtown Allentown just a couple blocks away when the shooting happened.
Many festival-goers had to leave their cars in the parking lot overnight as the police investigated. Some cars had shattered windows and were riddled with bullet holes.
Police officials said an investigation into this shooting is ongoing and they are asking anyone who may have information on this incident to contact the Allentown Police Department at 610-437-7721 or the Police Desk at 610-437-7753 ext. 1.
Anonymous text tips can be sent via the Tip411 App available on the Allentown Police Facebook Page or via the Allentown Police Department website at https://www.allentownpa.gov/Police.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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