— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
David Isaiah Rivera, 26, of Allentown faces homicide, attempted murder and more charges after a weekend shooting outside the BKK Lounge in Allentown, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca.
Ivan Diaz, 32, of Lower Macungie, died after being shot outside the lounge in the 1500 block of Union Boulevard on Feb. 2, the statement said.
Rivera is being held without bail in Lehigh County Prison, according to a statement from the District Attorney. Holihan said the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office assisted in finding Rivera.
A license-plate reading system also provided evidence.
Here is the statement from Holihan and Roca:
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Feb. 3, 2025
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announce an arrest in an ongoing homicide investigation.
David Isaiah Rivera, DOB 10/16/1998, of Allentown, is charged with Criminal Homicide, three counts each of Attempted Murder, three counts each of Aggravated Assault; all felonies of the first degree; Firearms Not to be Carried Without a License, a felony of the third degree; and a misdemeanor count of Recklessly Endangering Another Person.
Rivera was arraigned on the charges Feb. 2, 2025 before District Judge David M. Howells Jr. and is in Lehigh County Jail without bail. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 10:15 a.m. Feb. 10, 2025 in Lehigh County Central Court.
This investigation remains ongoing and less than 12 hours after the shootings and killing occurred, a defendant was in custody. We would like to recognize the efforts of law enforcement officials in Northampton County including the Northampton County District Attorney’s Office who helped facilitate this arrest quickly.
Just after 4 a.m. Feb. 2, 2025, Allentown Police were called to the BKK Lounge, an after-hours club located at 1500 Union Blvd. for a reported shooting.
Initial callers reported multiple people shot directly outside the club. Officers found four victims
including a man with a gunshot wound to the torso, another man with a gunshot wound to the upper thigh/hip area, a woman shot in both legs and a third man with a gunshot wound to his foot.
One of those victims, 32-year-old Ivan Diaz Jr., succumbed to his injuries. Diaz, of Lower Macungie Township, died from multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.
The investigation revealed two different caliber shell casings were located in front of the club and a surveillance camera captured the shootings.
Club staff told police there had been an argument inside the bar and security had attempted to remove all involved parties. Those parties removed from the club were involved in the shootings, the investigation revealed.
Investigators determined the group that included the two shooters left in two different vehicles. Both shooters, identified as men, wore distinctive clothing and had distinguishing tattoos that were used to help identify Rivera.
Authorities also used license plate reader data to help identify the vehicles driven by the group that included both shooters.
The investigation revealed that after the argument inside the club had been removed to the outside, Rivera produced a handgun from his sweatshirt pocket and fired that handgun at multiple victims. Diaz was shot and killed during that exchange of gunfire.
Rivera does not possess a valid concealed weapons permit.
This case was investigated by Allentown Police Detectives Samson Wega and Lehigh County Homicide Task Force Detective Kevin Mriss.
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, David Isaiah Rivera, is presumed innocent until and
unless proven guilty.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 