ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A Sunday night shootout in downtown Allentown that injured eight people left behind a "chaotic" crime scene with “a lot of evidence to process and many witnesses to interview,” the Lehigh County district attorney said Wednesday.
Authorities are continuing to investigate after two groups shot at each other — prompting police to open fire — Sunday night in downtown Allentown.
District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in a statement Wednesday that his office is conducting two separate investigations — one into the shooting that wounded eight and another into police who fired their guns.
“We do not currently believe that any of the victims were hit by any rounds fired by the two police officers who discharged their weapons."Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan
While the eight wounded people needed treatment, none of their injuries was life-threatening, Holihan said.
“We do not currently believe that any of the victims were hit by any rounds fired by the two police officers who discharged their weapons,” Holihan said.
“However, the investigation is still ongoing and there remains a lot of work to be done.”
One person was charged in connection with the shooting, as of noon Wednesday.
Holihan said “it’s too early in the investigation to detail exactly what occurred and to comment whether anyone else is likely to be charged."
No possible motive released
Authorities previously said two groups of people fired at each other about 6:45 p.m. Sunday in the 100 block of North Seventh Street during the annual Dominican Festival.
Allentown police officers ran toward a parking lot in the area after hearing gunfire there and found “several people actively shooting at each other,” Police Capt. Thomas Anderson said Monday in a news release.
Police shot at people who were shooting, Anderson said.
Yunior Peralta-Quintana, 21, of Allentown, on Monday morning was charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault in Lehigh County Court.
He also faces two misdemeanors in connection with the shooting, according to court records.
Prosecutors “will not comment on a possible motive at this point.”Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan
Authorities allege he was among those shooting Sunday in Center City, where hundreds were celebrating.
Holihan said prosecutors “will not comment on a possible motive at this point.”
Charging documents filed against Peralta-Quintana said one victim needed life-saving surgery Sunday after the shooting.
Court records list an Allentown address for Peralta-Quintana, though police said he is from Bethlehem.
