Man critical after police-involved shooting in Allentown

Sunday, December 29, 2019
ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Allentown police said a man is in critical condition after he was shot by an officer early Sunday morning.

It happened around 2:50 a.m. on the 100 block of South Madison Street.
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Police said officers were answering a call for a large fight happening at a location where gunshots had been fired.

Officials said the first officers to arrive at the scene came upon a large number of people actively engaged in an altercation.

The responding officer said another individual already on the ground as well as a blood trail and a man was seen brandishing a black handgun.

Police said the officer instructed the man to stop and drop the weapon but the man did not follow the officer's commands and ran.
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While on the porch of a nearby home, police said the man brandished the gun and turned toward the officer, who then fired, striking the man.



Police identified the man as Emmanuel Celestino-Mendez, 31, of the 100 block of S. Madison St.

He was charged with aggravated assault against a police officer and simple assault by the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office.
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