In the late hours of a February evening, the life of Nestor Luis Ortiz DeLeon, a 44-year-old man, was brought to a sudden and violent end. On February 24, 2019, while reporting for his shift at Customized Distribution Services on Industrial Boulevard in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, Ortiz DeLeon was discovered unconscious and unresponsive. He was swiftly transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy later confirmed that he had died from a gunshot wound to the head, and his death was officially ruled a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting spanned four intensive weeks, led by the Upper Macungie Police and the Lehigh County District Attorney's office. Investigators meticulously reviewed video surveillance footage from the area surrounding the warehouse, which played a crucial role in identifying a vehicle of interest—a yellow Mitsubishi Eclipse. This vehicle was later stopped in Elizabeth, New Jersey, providing a significant lead in the case. By examining phone records and other evidence, authorities began to piece together the events that led to Ortiz DeLeon's death, concluding that the perpetrator had laid in wait for him to arrive at his workplace.
This thorough investigation culminated in the arrest of Gustavo Velez-Hernandez of Allentown. On March 23, 2019, he was taken into custody at his home without incident. Velez-Hernandez was charged with one count of criminal homicide and one count of possessing a firearm without a license. Following his arrest, he was arraigned and committed to Lehigh County Jail, where he was held without bail on the homicide charge.
