Death Penalty Will Be Sought in SouthSide Killing

Prosecutors are pursuing the death penalty for an Allentown man charged with killing a Bethlehem woman outside of the Puerto Rican Beneficial Society in December.

A “notice of aggravating circumstances” was filed in Northampton County Court on Thursday, putting Rene Figueroa’s attorney on notice that the death penalty will be sought if he is convicted of first-degree homicide, said District Attorney John Morganelli.

According to Bethlehem police, Figueroa, 32, shot 23-year-old Yolanda Morales to death during a bloody gun battle on E. Third Street that erupted as the club emptied after 2 a.m. on Dec. 2.

One of the “aggravating circumstances” detailed in the notice filed Thursday by Deputy District Attorney Terence Houck is the allegation that Figueroa put others at “grave risk” during the gun battle, Morganelli said.

Five other people suffered gunshot wounds during the chaotic melee, including Figueroa and his alleged co-conspirator, Javier Rivera-Alvarado, 38, also of Allentown.

Rivera-Alvarado is accused of firing shots at Orialis and Angel Figueroa—brothers who are not related to Rene Figueroa -- as well at Luis Rivera and Morales.

According to police, a wounded Orialis Figueroa hit Rivera-Alvarado in the head with a baseball bat and took away his gun, which he then used in defense of himself and others to shoot Rene Figueroa.

Rene Figueroa is charged with one count of criminal homicide, two counts of attempted criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of carrying a firearm without a license, one count of receiving stolen property and six counts of criminal conspiracy.

Rivera-Alvarado is charged with three counts of attempted criminal homicide, three counts of aggravated assault, one count of carrying a firearm without a license and seven counts of criminal conspiracy.