Crime & Safety

Homeless Man Charged in Machete Attack

Argument between two homeless men near Schoenersville Road leads to one hitting the other in the face with a machete, according to police. Attempted homicide charge filed.

 

A homeless man who most recently slept in a wooded area just north of Schoenersville Road was jailed after he allegedly struck another homeless man in the face with a machete, police said.

Levine H. Koerner, 57, was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, simple assault and terroristic threats following his arrest Monday night.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

His victim, Richard Heilman, 42, was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Muhlenberg for treatment. Heilman was “bleeding profusely from a large gaping wound to the right side of his face,” according to the police media report.

Bethlehem police were initially called to the scene, just south and north of the 1400 block of Schoenersville Road, but the alleged attack occurred just beyond the municipal boundary in Hanover Township, Northampton County. It was then Colonial Regional Police that made the formal arrest.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to police:

  • Koerner and Heilman had been living in tents in the wooded area. Sometime Monday evening, the two men got into an argument.
  • Koerner told police that it was during this argument that Heilman tackled him. Koerner admitted to police that he went back to his tent, retrieved his machete, sought out Heilman and assaulted him, yelling “I’ll kill you, you son of a bitch!”
  • Koerner told police that he wished he had cut Heilman’s head off and that the machete attack would teach him not to tackle him.

Koerner was arraigned before District Judge Richard Yetter of Wilson and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $750,000 bail.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.