Fatal Shooting in South Whitehall, Arrest Made of 34-Year-Old Bethlehem Man

Update with DA’s statement:

OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

LEHIGH COUNTY COURTHOUSE

Oct. 4, 2024

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and South Whitehall Township Interim Police Chief Stephen Brown announce an arrest in a homicide.

Elvis Miguel Perez, DOB 7/16/1990, of Bethlehem, is charged with Criminal Homicide, Person Not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Control, Sell or Transfer Firearms and Possession of a Firearm with Altered Manufacture’s Number, all felonies of the first degree.

Perez was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jacob Hammond. Perez is Lehigh County Jail with no bail and his preliminary hearing will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 14, 2024.

Just after 6 a.m. today, police were called to 3439 Cambridge Circle. The victim, 56-year-old Christopher E. Potter, was found in a first-floor bathroom. Potter appeared to be suffering from two gunshot wounds and later succumbed to his injuries. His death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner and an autopsy will be completed on Oct. 7, 2024.

A witness whose name will not be released heard two gunshots and saw a man flee the home.

Several residents in the area called about a man acting suspiciously in the area who was running through yards near the Cambridge Circle home. That man was later identified as Perez, who was taken into custody about an hour after the shooting occurred.

A handgun was found in a garbage can at a residence in close proximity to where Perez was taken into custody. That handgun is the same caliber as two shell casings found inside the home at 3439 Cambridge Circle.

This arrest occurred quickly in part because residents in the area called police to report suspicious behavior as well as the fast actions of law enforcement officials who were able to find Perez and take him safely into custody.

This case was investigated by Detective Tyler Doherty of South Whitehall Township Police, Lehigh

County Homicide Task Force Detective Moses Miller. The investigation was also assisted by the District

Attorney’s Office, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.

As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation; and the defendant, Elvis Miguel Perez, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Earlier statement before the arrest

The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office issued this statement today:

— This morning around 6 a.m., there was a shooting in South Whitehall Township. The investigation remains ongoing.

Agencies involved include South Whitehall Township Police, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and Pennsylvania State Police.

Based on the current state of the investigation, we do not believe the public is currently at risk. However, we will not release any additional details at this time.

More information will be released as soon as possible. —