HAZLE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — State police are searching for a third suspect in a Hazle Township shooting that killed a teenage boy.
State police are on the search for a third suspect, identified as Eliezer Santana, 18, who has been charged with criminal homicide for a deadly shooting in 2023.
On April 14, 2023, Pennsylvania State Police responded to the Professional Auto Repair on West 23rd Street in Hazle Township for a report of a shooting.
Once on the scene, troopers stated they found a victim with gunshot wounds and took him to the hospital. According to Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio, Rolando Cepeda, 18, of Hazle Township, died Saturday at 3:15 p.m. at the hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds he sustained in the incident.
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Throughout the investigation, a total of three suspects were identified and two have been arrested.
One of the suspects, Alejandro Valdez-Batista of Mahanoy City has pleaded guilty to attempted homicide after he allegedly drove two suspects to the area where they shot and killed Cepeda.
Santana has not been arrested and his current whereabouts are unknown.
Anyone with information is asked to contact PSP Hazleton at 570-459-3890 or anonymously contact PSP Tips Toll-Free at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477) or online.
