Crime News

Fountain Hill Man Tied to Drugs, Rape and Homicide

Brian Simmons -- charged in a rape case, and allegedly at the scene of the shooting death of a Bethlehem man -- accused of selling heroin to a police source.

  In the last 10 months, Brian Simmons of Fountain Hill has crossed paths with local police three times. In April, he was allegedly at the scene of a homicide in Easton's West Ward that left Matthew Kelly of Bethlehem dead. In September, he was charged with the rape of a 15-year-old Easton girl in Glendon, although the case against him was later withdrawn. Now, he has been charged with selling heroin to a confidential police source in Easton. Simmons, 24, of 454 Ostrum St., allegedly met with the confidential source at S. 14th and Butler streets at 3:16 p.m. Wednesday to sell the heroin, according to an affidavit of probable cause. In Kelly's death, which is still under investigation by a Northampton County grand jury, police say Simmons …

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Coroner: Bethlehem Man Killed in Easton Shooting

Matthew Kelly, 20, of Bethlehem, died following a shooting Sunday in Easton.

Northampton County's coroner has identified the man who died after a shooting Sunday night in Easton's West Ward. Matthew Kelly, 20, of Bethlehem, died Sunday of a gunshot wound, Coroner Zachary Lysek said. Lysek ruled the death a homicide following an autopsy Monday morning. Kelly was one of two men shot Sunday night in the 1100 block of Spruce Street, in a church parking lot. The Express-Times says he's a 2010 graduate of Nazareth Area High School. The other man was wounded, but is expected to survive. Police have not released his name. According to WFMZ, this man was shot and also stabbed. Investigators say they are trying to determine whether Kelly and the other victim shot each other, or if other people were involved. 

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