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Juan Delgado, 35, was convicted of first-degree murder last month after prosecutors said he shot and killed Jean Ortiz Rivera on March 9, 2023. Rivera was sitting on his front porch in Lebanon City when Delgado walked up and shot him twice at close range. The attack, witnessed by Rivera’s wife, was captured on her home surveillance system and became key evidence in Delgado’s trial.
Authorities said the murder stemmed from a dispute between Delgado’s sister and Rivera’s wife. Less than an hour after the argument, Delgado retrieved an illegally owned 9 mm handgun, drove to the scene, and carried out the shooting. Rivera’s injuries were so severe that he died on the porch as his wife stood by, prosecutors said.
Delgado fled after the killing, discarding his clothes and attempting to hide the weapon. Police arrested him hours later, identifying him through surveillance footage, a distinctive tattoo, and a truck registered in his name. The murder weapon was recovered a month later from an associate, who testified in court that Delgado confessed and showed him where it was hidden.
“This senseless act of violence has devastated the victim’s family,” said Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf. “While this verdict and sentence cannot bring Mr. Rivera back, it ensures that Juan Delgado will never harm another person.”
President Judge John C. Tylwalk sentenced Delgado to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
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