Allentown Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Death of Three-Year-Old Boy; Loaded Gun Was Left Near Children

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

An Allentown man who left a loaded gun near two children was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan. Jose Hilario Abreu, 29, will be sentenced in February.

Here at the facts, from the District Attorney’s office:

Dec. 3, 2024

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a guilty plea in the death of a 3-year-old boy in Allentown.

Jose Hilario Abreu, DOB 10/26/1995, of Allentown, pleaded guilty today to Involuntary Manslaughter in which the victim was under 12 Years of Age and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, both felonies of the second degree.

The plea agreement calls for a minimum jail sentence between18 months and 30 months in prison. Abreu will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 11, 2025 in a hearing before Judge Robert L. Steinberg.

On March 28, 2024 at approximately 11:53 a.m., Lehigh County 911 Communications Center received a 911 call in which a female said her 3-year-old son grabbed a gun and shot himself in the chest.

The victim, identified as Elijah Abreu Borgen, was found with life-threatening injuries and taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest, but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital.

Elijah Abreu Borgen died from a gunshot wound to the torso and his death was ruled accidental by the Lehigh County Coroner.

The investigation revealed that Jose Hilario Abreu had a loaded handgun in the home with Elijah and a second child, age 2.

The investigation revealed a Glock 19 semi-automatic handgun was left unattended and fully loaded with a live cartridge in the chamber by Jose Hilario Abreu. Evidence further revealed when the gun was discharged, it was unholstered and resting atop a pillow on the couch where both toddlers were sitting.

A rapid gunshot residue test was performed on Elijah after his death and yielded a presumptive positive indication for gunshot residue on his hands.

The case was investigated by Allentown Police Detectives Joseph Beiner and Harold Bonser as well as the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office and the Lehigh County Firearm and Toolmark Laboratory. The Pennsylvania State Police assisted with the arrest of Abreu.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Sara A. Moyer and Senior Deputy District Attorney Sarah Heimbach.