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2 charged after Berks County man's killing in Center City Allentown: Police

Jahlik R. Colon, of Temple, was pronounced dead at 6:12 p.m. Wednesday in the emergency department at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Coroner Dan Buglio said in a news release.

Allentown Police Department
Allentown police responded to a fatal shooting in the city Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025.
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ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Two men are charged with homicide after a Berks County man was shot and killed Wednesday night in Allentown.

Jason Luis Gonzalez, 25, of Allentown, and Garfield St. Bernard McLean Jr., 30, of Reading, were arrested and charged shortly after Jahlik R. Colon died at a local hospital from multiple gunshot wounds about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to officials.

Police allege Gonzalez shot Colon, 24, of Temple, a half-hour earlier in the 100 block of North Eighth Street.

McLean is accused of acting as a getaway driver for Gonzalez.

Detectives used city surveillance cameras to identify Gonzalez and McLean as suspects, Police Capt. Daniel Gross said in a news release.

Officers about 7:15 p.m. stopped the vehicle the two were in and arrested both; a handgun was found during searches, according to the release.

Gonzalez and McLean each faces charges of criminal homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide.

Gonzalez also was charged with reckless endangerment and prohibited possession of a firearm, according to police.

Both were in Lehigh County Jail on Thursday, held without the option of bail.

Preliminary hearings for Gonzalez and McLean are scheduled for Wednesday.

Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk and Police Chief Charles Roca are scheduled to provide a public safety update on crime data and quality-of-life issues in a news conference scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday.

The event was scheduled prior to Wednesday’s shooting.

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