On June 4, 2023, a fatal shooting occurred in Allentown, Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of 22-year-old Edgar Gonzalez. The incident unfolded in the parking lot of an AutoZone store located at 1871 South 5th Street. Gonzalez was accompanied by Joshua Ortiz, 27, and three others in a Kia sedan. They confronted a second group comprising six adults and a 3-year-old child.
The confrontation began at a Taco Bell drive-through on South 4th Street, where Ortiz allegedly brandished a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine.
The altercation escalated when the second group sought refuge in the AutoZone parking lot. Ortiz and his companions located them and blocked their vehicle. A physical fight ensued, during which Ortiz fired multiple shots at the second group. An individual identified only as John Doe, who had arrived to assist the second group, returned fire in self-defense, fatally striking Gonzalez. Doe was found to be in legal possession of his firearm and justified in using deadly force; therefore, he faced no charges.
Following the incident, Ortiz was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, and related offenses for his role in the shooting. He pleaded guilty to attempted murder, a first-degree felony, on April 22, 2024. Subsequently, Ortiz was sentenced to serve 7¼ to 15 years in state prison.
The investigation was conducted by the Allentown Police Department and the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force. Authorities concluded that the occupants of the Kia sedan, including Ortiz and Gonzalez, were the aggressors in the incident, which ultimately led to Gonzalez's death.
