A weekend birthday celebration at a short-term rental in Long Pond, Pennsylvania, took a grim turn, ending in the death of 22-year-old Lionardo Hernandez-Zarata. The male victim, a Venezuelan national, had rented the house on Clover Road to celebrate his birthday with a multi-day party. The festive atmosphere dissolved into violence on January 12, 2025, following a dispute over payment for a DJ hired for the event.
The disagreement began when the DJ, Jesus Oliveros-Sosa, claimed he had
not been paid for his services. He then contacted his brothers, Oscar Quilarque-Sosa and Oswaldo Solorzano-Sosa, who arrived at the party to confront Hernandez-Zarata. The argument escalated into a gunfight, during which Hernandez-Zarata was shot eight times with three different caliber firearms. Two other men, Johangel Farfan, 23, and Isaat Ozuna, 25, both also from Venezuela, were wounded in the shootout but survived. When police arrived at the chaotic scene, they found the house in disarray, with spent shell casings, bullet holes, and abandoned belongings, including suitcases, cell phones, and cash.
The investigation that followed involved local law enforcement, the Monroe County District Attorney's Office, and the FBI. Authorities discovered evidence of narcotics trafficking at the rental, including a drug known as 'tusi' or 'pink cocaine.' The investigation also revealed that both the victim and the Sosa brothers had markings indicative of affiliation with the Venezuelan gang 'Tren de Aragua.' This connection became a significant element of the case.
Following an intensive investigation, three men were charged with criminal homicide and attempted criminal homicide: Oscar Quilarque-Sosa, 31, his brother Oswaldo Solorzano-Sosa, 37, and Josthin Landaeta-Perez, 24. Oscar Quilarque-Sosa and Josthin Landaeta-Perez were taken into custody in New York on unrelated federal and state charges. As of the latest reports, Oswaldo Solorzano-Sosa remains at large. The DJ, Jesus Oliveros-Sosa, was also taken into custody in New York and faces charges of hindering apprehension. In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, several other individuals at the party were arrested on drug possession charges.
