2008 Woodie Awards
RSSHearing postponed for summer shooting case
By Kathryn Jacobson
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: News
The preliminary hearing for defendant Alberto R. Melendez Jr., arrested for firing a gun at Michael Ritter, '08, on July 29, has been postponed until further notice.
Upon his arrest, Melendez applied for a public defender, and the court assigned him Attorney Holly Calantoni of Bethlehem.
As of Nov. 1, the case was reassigned to Lawyer Bohdan Zelechiwsky of Bethlehem. Zelechiwsky was unavailable for comment, but according to his office, he just received notice of the case and is waiting to find out the new hearing date.
According to court documents, Melendez is charged with attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of firearms prohibited and not to be carried without a license.
Investigator Frank Rossnagle of the Bethlehem Police Department said it is up to the defense attorney's office to decide what will happen to Melendez.
"None of these are typical charges," Rossnagle said.
Ritter said he has mixed emotions now that Melendez has been charged because it is bringing him unwanted publicity.
"A part of me is relieved and hopefully justice can be served," Ritter said. "But a part of me just wants it to go away and not come back again."
According to court documents, Melendez, 20, and his two friends, Dominic Rhone and Kaishif Williams, were returning from the Sotto Santi restaurant on 10 W. Fourth St. on the night of July 29.
The three men were being loud, and Ritter, who was on the porch of his Birkel Avenue home, warned them to be quiet.
Melendez allegedly approached Ritter with a gun and put it against his head. Ritter jerked his head, and the gun discharged.
Melendez said he never meant for the gun to go off and did not think a round was in the gun.
Melendez said he ran away and later threw the automatic 9 mm gun on the roof of a house on Carlton Avenue.
According to The Morning Call, the shooting happened about a week after Melendez was released from a drug rehabilitation center. Melendez was also on parole from a previous arrest on June 8, 2006, after a fight with an ex-girlfriend.
By the time detectives learned Melendez was the alleged shooter for the July 29 case, he was already in county prison for a parole violation of his 2006 case.
Ritter said the scar where the bullet hit has healed, but the burn scar on the side of his head remains.
Physical scars cannot compare with the emotional scars, Ritter said.
Since the incident, Ritter said he has found himself to be more quiet and reserved.
He said he is more careful about what he says to strangers and will not be as naive as he was.
"From the whole experience, I'm trying to be a better person to my friends and family," Ritter said, "and I try not to take things for granted."
Ritter will see Melendez face-to-face for the first time since the incident occurred when he testifies as a witness at the hearing.
Upon his arrest, Melendez applied for a public defender, and the court assigned him Attorney Holly Calantoni of Bethlehem.
As of Nov. 1, the case was reassigned to Lawyer Bohdan Zelechiwsky of Bethlehem. Zelechiwsky was unavailable for comment, but according to his office, he just received notice of the case and is waiting to find out the new hearing date.
According to court documents, Melendez is charged with attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and possession of firearms prohibited and not to be carried without a license.
Investigator Frank Rossnagle of the Bethlehem Police Department said it is up to the defense attorney's office to decide what will happen to Melendez.
"None of these are typical charges," Rossnagle said.
Ritter said he has mixed emotions now that Melendez has been charged because it is bringing him unwanted publicity.
"A part of me is relieved and hopefully justice can be served," Ritter said. "But a part of me just wants it to go away and not come back again."
According to court documents, Melendez, 20, and his two friends, Dominic Rhone and Kaishif Williams, were returning from the Sotto Santi restaurant on 10 W. Fourth St. on the night of July 29.
The three men were being loud, and Ritter, who was on the porch of his Birkel Avenue home, warned them to be quiet.
Melendez allegedly approached Ritter with a gun and put it against his head. Ritter jerked his head, and the gun discharged.
Melendez said he never meant for the gun to go off and did not think a round was in the gun.
Melendez said he ran away and later threw the automatic 9 mm gun on the roof of a house on Carlton Avenue.
According to The Morning Call, the shooting happened about a week after Melendez was released from a drug rehabilitation center. Melendez was also on parole from a previous arrest on June 8, 2006, after a fight with an ex-girlfriend.
By the time detectives learned Melendez was the alleged shooter for the July 29 case, he was already in county prison for a parole violation of his 2006 case.
Ritter said the scar where the bullet hit has healed, but the burn scar on the side of his head remains.
Physical scars cannot compare with the emotional scars, Ritter said.
Since the incident, Ritter said he has found himself to be more quiet and reserved.
He said he is more careful about what he says to strangers and will not be as naive as he was.
"From the whole experience, I'm trying to be a better person to my friends and family," Ritter said, "and I try not to take things for granted."
Ritter will see Melendez face-to-face for the first time since the incident occurred when he testifies as a witness at the hearing.
