UPDATE: Easton man named as gunman in Palmer Twp. killing
Police arrested the suspected gunman in a homicide Thursday night outside Auto Zone in Palmer Township, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said.
"We do have a suspect in custody and I'm confident that we are going to be able to solve this matter based on the information that is being developed," Morganelli said at the scene along 25th Street.
The male victim was in a sedan that was pursued by the gunman into the parking lot shortly after 7 p.m., Morganelli confirmed.
A woman who was at Retro Fitness across the street from the auto parts store said she heard six to seven shots through the open door to the gym.
The victim, whose identity was not immediately made public, appeared to have suffered multiple gunshot wounds while in the car, Morganelli said.
"It seems to me that these actors these people that were involved in this matter were people that knew each other," the district attorney said, "and it may be in the nature of a dispute over a girlfriend or a domestic-type matter."
The girlfriend was in the victim's car when the gunfire broke out, said the woman from the gym, who said she is familiar with the people involved.
Moments after the shooting was reported, Wilson Borough and Easton police secured a second crime scene Thursday night in the 1400 block of Lehigh Street in the city, near the municipalities' border. They had a car with front passenger side damage, and were deferring comment to Palmer police.
Morganelli said he could not immediately confirm the car in Easton was related to the homicide investigation.
Easton and Wilson Borough police have a car secured the night of Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017, in the 1400 block of Lehigh Street, moments after a male victim was apparently shot to death outside Auto Zone in Palmer Township. (Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com)
The victim pulled into a parking space outside Auto Zone, and his driver's side sideswiped another vehicle parked there. The victim's car had damage to its rear passenger side bumper.
Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek confirmed the homicide as well and will rule on the cause of death.
This would be the second shooting death investigated by Palmer and county authorities since fall. The murder of 25-year-old Michael Davis last Nov. 21 outside his Eldridge Avenue home in the township remains unsolved.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.