Allentown Man Gets Life Sentence for 2022 Murder, Plus Extra Years for Intimidation; He Was Already in Jail for Robbery Committed After the Killing

Aug. 4, 2026

— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs

Steve M. Rosa, 32, of Allentown was sentenced today to life without parole for a 2022 killing, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.

On July 28, 2022, Rosa shot and killed Tywon Deleva Abner, 33, in the 500 block of West Allen Street in Allentown, Holihan said in a press statement.

In addition to the life sentence, Rosa was sentenced to 10 to 20 years for intimidation for contacting a witness from prison, the District Attorney said. It’s another case of an inmate, this time using a computer tablet, contacting a witness from prison.

He was already in state prison for a robbery committed after the homicide.

Here’s the statement from District Attorney Holihan:

Aug. 4, 2026

District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announces a life sentence for an Allentown man convicted of murder in a 2022 killing.
Steven M. Rosa, DOB 1/28/1994, was convicted by a jury on May 14, 2026 of First-Degree Criminal Homicide and Carrying a Firearm without a License.
In a separate case tried together with the homicide, Rosa was also convicted of felony counts of Witness Intimidation and Criminal Use of a Communication Facility. That case arose out of Rosa’s efforts to intimidate a person who had information about the homicide. While in Lehigh County Jail, Rosa used a computer tablet in order to convince the witness not to testify.
Rosa was sentenced today in a hearing before Judge Robert Steinberg to serve a life sentence without parole and an additional 10 to 20 years in prison for the Intimidation and Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.
Rosa is also serving a state prison sentence following a conviction for a robbery which occurred after the murder.
Rosa was convicted in the murder of Tywon Deleva Abner, 33, who was shot and killed July 28, 2022 in the 500 block of West Allen Street in Allentown.
That night around 11 p.m., Allentown Police reported to a shooting and found Abner with a gunshot wound. Police and paramedics administered life-saving efforts, but Abner died at a local hospital.
Abner died from a gunshot wound to the chest and his death was ruled a homicide by Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio.
The case was investigated by Lehigh County’s 12th Investigating Grand Jury as well as Lehigh County District Attorney’s Homicide Task Force Detective Kevin Mriss and Allentown Police Detective Miguel Villa (retired). The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office Regional Intelligence and Investigative Center also assisted in the investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorneys Bethany S. Zampogna and Gregory
R. Englert.