Ivan Diaz Jr., a 32-year-old Hispanic man from Lower Macungie Township, Pennsylvania, was a devoted husband and a loving father to two young children. Known to his family as "Buddha," he was described as a kindhearted and hardworking man who would take on extra jobs to provide for his family. In the early hours of February 2, 2025, he was at his job working as a security guard at an after-hours club in Allentown.
That morning, around 4 a.m., an argument that started inside the BKK Lounge
on Union Boulevard spilled out into the parking lot. As security staff, including Diaz, attempted to de-escalate the situation and separate the groups, two men retrieved handguns from a car and opened fire. Four people were struck by the gunfire. While a woman and two other men were expected to survive their injuries, Diaz was shot multiple times in the torso. He was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office later ruled his death a homicide.
The Allentown Police Department and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office launched an investigation, relying heavily on surveillance footage from the club. The video captured the shooting, and investigators found shell casings of two different calibers at the scene, confirming there were two shooters. Using the footage, distinctive clothing, tattoos, and social media posts, authorities quickly identified two suspects.
Less than 12 hours after the shooting, police arrested 26-year-old David Isaiah Rivera of Allentown. A few days later, a second suspect, 35-year-old Pedro Junior Paulino, also from Allentown, was publicly identified. Paulino surrendered to authorities on February 8, 2025. Both men were charged with criminal homicide, multiple counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault, and firearms offenses. They were held in Lehigh County Jail without bail.
Following a preliminary hearing, a judge ordered both Rivera and Paulino to stand trial. In September 2026, a jury found both men guilty. David Rivera was convicted of first-degree murder, while Pedro Paulino was convicted of third-degree murder. Both were also found guilty on three counts each of attempted murder and aggravated assault, as well as felony firearms charges.
As of the verdict in September 2026, Rivera faced a mandatory life sentence, and Paulino faced a potential sentence of 50 to 100 years in prison. Their sentencing was scheduled for November 2026.
