Felix Dini, a 22-year-old man from Freeland, PA, tragically died on October 7, 2022, from gunshot wounds sustained during a shooting in Hazleton, PA. The incident occurred around 5:47 p.m. at the intersection of South Fulton Court and East Noble Street. Dini was one of two men shot that evening; the other victim was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, but their condition was not disclosed.
Dini succumbed to his injuries three days later, on October 10, 2022, at Lehigh
Valley Hospital. The Lehigh County Coroner ruled his death a homicide. The Hazleton City Police Department and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the case.
Two individuals, Keliana Jiminez and Wellington Ramirez, were charged with Dini's murder. They faced a jury trial in Luzerne County Court, which resumed after an unexpected document dump by prosecutors. During the trial, forensic pathologist Dr. Crystal Magno testified that Dini died from multiple gunshot wounds. Surveillance footage showed a black Acura at the scene, and a man believed to be the shooter was seen getting into the vehicle before it fled.
In addition to Jiminez and Ramirez, Jenndry Samuel Rodriguez-Contreras, a 23-year-old from Freeland, was also charged with Dini's murder. Rodriguez-Contreras, who had fled to the United States from the Dominican Republic after being accused of an attempted homicide, was captured by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force in York, PA, and later pled not guilty to the charges.
The trial proceedings have been complex, with the defense challenging the prosecution's key witness and evidence. The case continues to unfold as the court seeks to determine the full extent of the events leading to Felix Dini's death and hold those responsible accountable.
