Allentown police

By Jillian Pikora From Daily Voice

All charges against two men accused of killing 24-year-old Jahlik R. Colon in Allentown will proceed to county court, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced on Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Jason Gonzalez, 25, and Garfield McLean Jr., 30, both of Allentown, are charged with felony criminal homicide, felony conspiracy to commit criminal homicide, and felony person not to possess a firearm. Gonzalez also faces a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person after a man standing beside Colon was nearly struck by gunfire.

The killing happened at 5:42 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the 100 block of North 8th Street. Officers found Colon suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the doorway of an apartment building. His death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.

Detectives used city surveillance cameras and Flock Safety license plate readers to track a 2001 silver Honda Accord registered to Gonzalez. Video showed Gonzalez running toward the scene before the shooting, then returning to the car moments later. McLean was identified as the driver who fled with him.

The car was stopped on the 8th Street Bridge at 7:12 p.m. — less than two hours after the killing — with both men inside, along with a woman and her 1-year-old child, authorities said. A 9mm handgun with one live round, consistent with the weapon used, was recovered. The woman and child were released and not charged.

Both men were initially held without bail at Lehigh County Jail. They appeared for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Nov. 25, where District Judge Jacob Hammond ordered all charges to proceed to county court.

The case is being investigated by Allentown Police Detective Ariel Vidal and Lehigh County Homicide Task Force Detective Kevin Mriss. It is being prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Kevin McCloskey.