ALLENTOWN, Pa - District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a sentencing for a man charged in a 2023 shooting in the parking lot of the Auto Zone.
28-year-old Joshua Ortiz of Allentown, pleaded guilty April 22. 2024, to attempted murder, a felony of the first degree, according to a news release from the Lehigh County DA's office.
Ortiz was sentenced on June 18, 2024 by Judge James T. Anthony to serve 7 years and 3 months to 15 years in state prison, according to the news release.
The shooting occurred June 4, 2023 in the parking lot of the Auto Zone located at 1871 South 5th Street in Allentown, according to the DA's office.
The investigation showed that the shooting occurred when one group of people targeted a second group, according to the news release.
The first group was in a sedan that contained five people, including Ortiz and a friend of his, Edgar Gonzalez, according to the DA's office.
This group followed the second group, threatening them for a brief period of time which culminated in a physical altercation in in the parking lot of the Auto Zone.
During the altercation, Ortiz brandished a handgun and opened fire on the second group, firing several rounds, according to the news release.
An individual identified publicly only as John Doe had met the second group to offer a ride and Doe fired back in self-defense, striking Gonzalez and killing him. Because Doe was determined to be in legal possession of a handgun and also justified in using deadly force in defense of himself and others, he faces no charges in the death of Gonzalez, according to the DA's office.
Ortiz was also shot during the altercation and was treated for a gunshot wound.
The case was investigated by Allentown Police Detective Ariel E. Vidal and the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force and was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Ramma R. Mineo
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