Oct. 15, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
A 32-year-old Allentown man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after his conviction in a 2023 murder.
Evander Thompson was convicted July 30 of Murder of the First Degree and a firearms offense in the shooting death of Orlando Ibanez, 48, who was shot in the neck at an apartment building on West Allen Street, according to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.
” … while walking away from the shooting, Thompson texted to his paramour the words, “he dead,” “the press release from Holihan said.
The statement said Thompson is also a suspect in a 2016 killing in Ferguson, Missouri.
From the District Attorney: “The victim is 16-year-old Maleaha Journ’e Talton, whose body was found beaten, shot in the head and wrapped in a carpet found along a wooded trail.”
Judge Robert L. Steinberg sentenced Thompson on Wednesday to life in prison and an additional 3 to 7 years for the weapons charge.
Here is the statement from District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan:
Oct. 15, 2026
District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan announces an Allentown man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after he was convicted by a jury in a 2023 murder.
Evander Thompson, DOB 2/25/1994, was convicted on July 30, 2026 of felony charges of Murder of the First Degree and Firearms Not to be Carried Without a License.
Thompson was sentenced Oct. 14, 2026 by Judge Robert L. Steinberg to serve life in prison and an additional 3 to 7 years for the weapons charge.
Thompson was convicted of killing Orlando Ibanez, who died Sept. 23, 2023.
Ibanez, DOB 11/19/1964, of Allentown, died from a gunshot wound to his neck and his death was ruled a homicide by Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio.
Just before 2 a.m. on Sept. 23, 2023, Allentown Police responded to a 911 call for a shooting on the second floor of 540 W. Allen St.
Officers found Ibanez at the entrance to his apartment and near his body, police found a shell casing.
City surveillance cameras showed a man later identified as Thompson enter the West Allen Street home just prior to the shooting where he remained several minutes before running away.
Video footage recovered by investigators showed Thompson using his cellphone moments after the shooting. Upon recovering his cellphone and obtaining court permission to search the phone, it was revealed that while walking away from the shooting, Thompson texted to his paramour the words, “he dead.”
City and privately-owned cameras also showed Thompson walking to the scene of the shooting from his home at 230 N. Nagle St. and returning home after the shooting.
Authorities later found a gun on Thompson’s paramour’s minor son. The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Firearm and Tool Mark Laboratory compared that gun to the shell casing found at the homicide scene and the projectile recovered from the victim at the autopsy and determined both items matched the gun recovered from the minor.
Police and analysts with the Regional Intelligence and Investigative Center also found a video recorded by Thompson showing himself with a gun consistent with the murder weapon.
Thompson is also a suspect in a yet uncharged homicide in Ferguson, Missouri, that occurred in 2016. The victim is 16-year-old Maleaha Journ’e Talton, whose body was found beaten, shot in the head and wrapped in a carpet found along a wooded trail.
Thompson was dating the victim and has been the only named person of interest, but no criminal charges have yet been filed in the case. Talton’s family members attended Thompson’s sentencing hearing yesterday. This homicide investigation remains open with the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department and anyone with information may call 314-522-3100.
This case was investigated by Allentown Police Detective Theodore Kiskeravage as well as the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force and was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Ramma R. Mineo, Senior Deputy District Attorney Carly Levandoski and Paralegal Rachel Bard.
