— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
A 26-year-old Florida man may soon be heading north.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca said Alberto Jose Rios-Santiago of Deltona, Florida, has been charged with criminal homicide in the 2023 shooting death of Blessing Taveras outside an after-hour clubs at 1038 Union Blvd.
“After-hours” club and gun crime go together. Perhaps it’s time to shut them all down?
Taveras was 28 and a resident of Schnecksville. Two other people were injured by gunfire, according to law enforcement.
Here are the facts, from Holihan and Roca:
Feb. 13, 2025
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca announce an arrest today in a 2023 homicide investigation.
Alberto Jose Rios-Santiago, DOB 11/2/1998, of Deltona, Florida, is charged with Criminal Homicide, a felony of the first degree; two counts each of Aggravated Assault, a felony of the second degree and a misdemeanor count of Possessing Instruments of Crime.
Rios-Santiago was arrested today in Florida and is awaiting extradition to Lehigh County.
The homicide occurred Jan. 22, 2023 at an after-hours club at 1038 Union Boulevard. The victim is 28-year-old Blessing Taveras.
Taveras, of Schnecksville, was shot and killed and her death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.
The shooting occurred around 4:45 a.m. and two other victims were also injured by gunfire.
This case was investigated by Lehigh County’s 12th Investigating Grand Jury, Allentown Police Detective Raymond T. Ferraro and the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force Detective Moses Miller.
The complaint and presentment are both sealed.
The case will be prosecuted by Chief of Prosecutions Patricia Fuentes Mulqueen and Assistant District Attorney Sis-Obed G. Torres-Figueroa.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is
merely an accusation; and the accused, Alberto Jose Rios-Santiago, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 