ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A double homicide suspect turned himself into authorities Thursday night, January 4 at approximately 8:45 pm. He turned himself into authorities at Lehigh County Prison located at 38 North 4th Street in Allentown.
Gabriel Cartagena, age 43, is accused of killing 44-year-old Ada Ortiz and her one-year-old grandson, Sebastian Serrano Jr. on Friday, December 29, 2023 at the 100 block of Chestnut Street in Allentown. He had been considered armed and dangerous, according to the Lehigh County District Attorney.
Coroner Daniel Buglio had ruled their deaths homicides from multiple gunshot wounds.
Gabriel Cartagena,
DA Gavin Holihan held a press conference not even five hours earlier presenting the abhorrent acts committed by Cartagena and the subsequent charges Cartagena will face, according to the news release.
44-year-old Ada Ortiz and 1-year-old Sebastian Serrano Jr., were not the only ones shot at, according to Holihan. Holihan said, "He aimed a gun at another child who was in the home, a 7-year-old male,"
Holihan says Ada Ortiz's husband jumped in front of that child, taking the bullet.
Thankfully, both survived. The husband had non-life-threatening injuries.
Cartagena faces charges of two counts each of homicide, attempted homicide, and aggravated assault, as well as one count of burglary and two firearm-related felonies, according to the news release.
The DA says officials don't yet know whether the suspect knew the victims ahead of time.
Official Press Release from the Allentown Police Department