Resident confronts man trying to open car doors in Allentown, both shot and killed: Police

ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Two men are dead after a resident tried to confront a group of suspects who were allegedly trying to break into cars in Allentown early Friday morning.

The shooting happened in the 100 block of East South Street at about 1:30 a.m.

According to police, multiple suspects were attempting to open car doors of parked vehicles in the area.

When a nearby resident confronted the suspects, an exchange of gunfire took place between the resident and a suspect, police said. Both the suspect and the resident were fatally shot.

Responding officers attempted to save the men, but they both died at the scene.

The victims' identities have not yet been made public.

Just hours before this incident, a 39-year-old man identified as Darnelle Thompson was shot multiple times.

Police say they responded to that scene on the 500 Block of North 4th Street around 6:30pm Thursday evening.

Thompson was pronounced dead at Lehigh Valley Hospital.

The mayor of Allentown, Matt Tuerk, addressed the recent violence on Friday:

"I'm sad to see the loss of life in our City over the past day. My heart goes out to the mothers and children of those we lost and I understand the fear and frustration felt by our neighbors. We are hurting, but I trust Allentonians to find a path to healing.

I want our residents to know that we are here to help. If you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, angry, health care providers can help. Mental health is key to our community's health, and both our hospital networks and our first responders are here to serve. Our police are capable and do respond to both to neighborhood emergencies and also neighborly disputes. We're here to help.

I'll repeat what I said at yesterday's rally against illegal guns in Harrisburg. The malignant presence of illegal guns is a toxin in Allentown. I'm asking our legislators to join me in getting guns off the street in our city. When we have safe streets, we give Pennsylvanians a chance to thrive. The Allentown police department has taken over 350 guns off the street since the beginning of 2022, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly can help by passing laws mandating the reporting of gun theft, improving background checks, and enacting extreme risk protection orders.

Our health and safety are bound together, and we can be better when we help each other."

Anyone with information about the shootings are asked to call police at 610-437-7721.