19-Year-Old Bethlehem Man to Spend Next 22 to 50 Years in Prison for Murder

— Lehigh Valley News Briefs

He might be in his 60s when he gets out. He was 17 when he pulled the trigger.

Straight from Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan’s office:

Oct. 21, 2024

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a Bethlehem man was sentenced today for a homicide and robbery that both occurred in 2023.

Abner Juarbe, DOB 4/08/2005, pleaded guilty Aug. 1, 2024 to Murder of the Third Degree, Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery; all felonies of the first degree. Juarbe was sentenced today by Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks to serve 22 to 50 years in state prison.

Juarbe shot and killed 39-year-old Darnell Thompson on March 23, 2023 in the 500 block of N. 4th Street in Allentown. Juarbe shot Thompson during a fight between two teenage girls that occurred around 6:30 p.m.

Thompson, of 521 N. 4th St. in Allentown, died from multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.

Less than 24 hours before the killing occurred, Juarbe stole a gun from a victim at a hotel in Hanover Township, Lehigh County. This occurred on March 22, 2023.

The case was investigated by Lehigh County’s 11th Investigating Grand Jury as well as the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force Detective Kevin Mriss. The affiants in the robbery and homicide are Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Anthony J. Oliveri III and Allentown Police Detective Joshua R. Faust. The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorneys Debra G. Naish and Ramma R. Mineo.