Dagmary Baez-Arocho, a 39-year-old female from Allentown, Pennsylvania, was killed in the early morning hours of November 5, 2017, after gunfire erupted inside a home in the 900 block of West Tilghman Street. Police were called to the residence around 2:00 a.m., where they found Baez-Arocho and her 17-year-old daughter suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were rushed to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, but Baez-Arocho was pronounced dead at 2:26 a.m.
Her death was caused by multiple gunshot wounds to the body, and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office ruled the manner of death a homicide.
The shooting unfolded after Baez-Arocho had been arguing with 54-year-old Angel Manuel Cruz, identified in reports as her boyfriend and a resident of the home. During the confrontation, Cruz allegedly pulled out a gun and fired multiple times, striking Baez-Arocho and her teenage daughter. Another daughter, reported to be 15 years old, witnessed the violence. The 17-year-old survived and was listed in stable condition, but the attack left the family grieving the loss of a mother of four.
Cruz was arrested shortly after the shooting in the area of Fourth and Linden streets. Police said he was taken into custody without incident, and other reports stated that he later turned himself in. He was charged with criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide, and aggravated assault. He was held in Lehigh County Jail without bail as the investigation continued.
In the days after Baez-Arocho’s death, relatives and friends gathered for a candlelight vigil in Allentown. Family members described the loss as devastating, especially for her children, and one relative said there was no way to replace a mother. While police did not publicly release a confirmed motive, one relative suggested Baez-Arocho may have wanted Cruz to leave and believed he may have been obsessive. Online source information located for this synopsis confirms Cruz’s arrest and charges, but did not provide a final trial outcome or conviction details.
