2008 Woodie Awards
RSSSummer shooter identified, trial pending
By Liz Wysocki
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News
Bethlehem police filed a criminal complaint against Alberto R. Melendez Jr. in regard to firing a handgun at Michael Ritter, '08, on 486 Birkel Ave. this summer. Melendez was arraigned on Thursday at the District Court 03-2-10 by District Justice Nancy Matos-Gonzalez. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at the District Court on Fourth St.
According to the notice of preliminary hearing, Melendez has been charged with criminal attempt, two counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of firearms prohibited and not to be carried without a license. Assistant District Attorney Robert Eyer will be representing the state. Melendez has filed for a public defender but will not receive one until next week.
A warrant was put out for Melendez's arrest. He was found in Northampton County Prison and was released on Thursday for the arraignment. According to a bail form, he was imprisoned for previous theft charges and failure to appear in court. He has been sent back to prison under $250,000 bail.
According to the affidavit, Ritter said on the night of the shooting that he heard three men "yelling and screaming and yelled out to them to knock it off' and be quiet because of the cops in the area. One of the males yelled back at him to "shut the f--- up." When the male came up on the porch, Ritter heard what sounded like a round being racked into the chamber. He started to stand up and the male put the gun up to Ritter's head, just above his right ear. Ritter jerked his head, heard a "bang" and smelled smoke. At that point he fell towards the male and the men ran off.
Ritter was not available for comment.
According to the affidavit, Melendez said on the same night "he did go up on the porch and argued with this male who was being very aggressive. At some point, he, Melendez, had pulled out a handgun from his waist area and 'racked' the slide back. While arguing with this guy who was standing up in front of him, he went to hit the male in the side of the head and as he did this act the gun went off. Melendez insisted that he thought that there was no round in the chamber and he never had his finger on the trigger and he never intended to shoot the subject. Melendez indicated that when he hit the male and the gun went off, the male fell down and after that, Melendez ran."
The two other men accompanying Melendez on the night of the shooting have been identified as Dominic Rhone and Kaishif Williams.
The affidavit stated, "[Melendez] later threw the gun up on a roof of a house on Carlton Avenue and later learned that 'someone' else retrieved it. Melendez claimed that he had the gun only for less than a week prior to the events on Birkel Avenue. He described the gun as being black in color, automatic 9mm."
According to the notice of preliminary hearing, Melendez has been charged with criminal attempt, two counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of firearms prohibited and not to be carried without a license. Assistant District Attorney Robert Eyer will be representing the state. Melendez has filed for a public defender but will not receive one until next week.
A warrant was put out for Melendez's arrest. He was found in Northampton County Prison and was released on Thursday for the arraignment. According to a bail form, he was imprisoned for previous theft charges and failure to appear in court. He has been sent back to prison under $250,000 bail.
According to the affidavit, Ritter said on the night of the shooting that he heard three men "yelling and screaming and yelled out to them to knock it off' and be quiet because of the cops in the area. One of the males yelled back at him to "shut the f--- up." When the male came up on the porch, Ritter heard what sounded like a round being racked into the chamber. He started to stand up and the male put the gun up to Ritter's head, just above his right ear. Ritter jerked his head, heard a "bang" and smelled smoke. At that point he fell towards the male and the men ran off.
Ritter was not available for comment.
According to the affidavit, Melendez said on the same night "he did go up on the porch and argued with this male who was being very aggressive. At some point, he, Melendez, had pulled out a handgun from his waist area and 'racked' the slide back. While arguing with this guy who was standing up in front of him, he went to hit the male in the side of the head and as he did this act the gun went off. Melendez insisted that he thought that there was no round in the chamber and he never had his finger on the trigger and he never intended to shoot the subject. Melendez indicated that when he hit the male and the gun went off, the male fell down and after that, Melendez ran."
The two other men accompanying Melendez on the night of the shooting have been identified as Dominic Rhone and Kaishif Williams.
The affidavit stated, "[Melendez] later threw the gun up on a roof of a house on Carlton Avenue and later learned that 'someone' else retrieved it. Melendez claimed that he had the gun only for less than a week prior to the events on Birkel Avenue. He described the gun as being black in color, automatic 9mm."
