— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Latasha Santiago, 36, of Allentown, faces as long as 20 years in jail after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.
Her husband, Jose Santiago, faces charges including criminal homicide in the death of 21-year-old Christian Lopez-Rodriguez, who died after a shot to the abdomen.
Jose Santiago was also shot in the leg during the robbery, according to Holihan. Multiple handguns were blazing on the Hamilton Street Bridge that October day in 2020.
It all started, according to the District Attorney, with Jose Santiago ordering two people to “run their pockets.”
Here are the facts from the District Attorney’s office:
March 31, 2025
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announced a woman pleaded guilty today to charges in an Allentown armed robbery and killing that occurred in 2020.
Latasha Santiago, DOB 9/23/1988, of Allentown, pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, a felony of the first degree.
Santiago pleaded guilty at a hearing before Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks. The open plea carries a possible maximum sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.
Santiago is scheduled for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. June 3.
Also charged in the case is Santiago’s husband, Jose Santiago, who is charged with Criminal Homicide, Conspiracy to Commit criminal Homicide, Robbery – Inflict Serious Bodily Injury, Robbery – Threaten Serious Bodily Injury and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery; all felonies of the first degree.
Jose Santiago is scheduled for a status hearing at 10:30 a.m. May 8 before Judge Marks.
This case was investigated by Allentown Police Detective Harold Bonser and Detective Timothy Salgado of the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force and will be prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Eric Dowdle and Senior Deputy District Attorney Gregory Englert.
On Oct. 17, 2020 at approximately 3:25 p.m., Allentown Police were called to the 100 block of East Hamilton Street at the bridge for a report of a man who was shot. A person who called 911 said after the shooting, the suspect jumped over the side of the bridge and got into a gold vehicle.
Police found the victim, 21-year-old Christian Lopez-Rodriguez with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Lopez-Rodriguez succumbed to his wounds and died at an area hospital.
Lopez-Rodriguez of Allentown died from the gunshot wound and his death was ruled a homicide by the Lehigh County Coroner.
Officers on scene spoke to a victim who was walking with Lopez-Rodriguez at the time of the shooting. The victim’s name will not be released.
That victim told police they were walking eastbound across the Hamilton Street bridge when Jose Santiago approached them and showed a handgun and told them to “run their pockets.”
The victim said he handed Santiago his wallet containing $181.50 and during the robbery, Lopez-Rodriguez punched Santiago, who then opened fire and shot Lopez-Rodriguez. The victim told police he pulled out his own handgun and shot Santiago before Santiago fled. While fleeing, Santiago shot at the victim as well.
Several minutes after the shooting, Santiago walked into a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg. He was accompanied by Latasha Santiago. While at the hospital, Santiago turned over a handgun.
A witness observed the shooting and saw Santiago fire a gun and then jump over the bridge into the waiting vehicle parked under the bridge. That vehicle was driven by Latasha Santiago.
Video surveillance was also recovered from the Hamilton Street bridge that showed the robbery and killing.
Santiago’s gun and recovered ballistic evidence was analyzed by the Lehigh County Firearm and Tool Mark Laboratory and Detective Mark Garrett determined they were used to kill the victim.
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, Jose Santiago, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 