A Lehigh County jury has sealed Grelvis Estevez Cabrera’s fate, sentencing the 29-year-old to life in prison without parole for the June 2024 execution-style murder of 25-year-old Angel Martinez-Velez on a Fountain Park basketball court.
At a Glance
- Estevez Cabrera was convicted of criminal homicide, murder and related charges in October 2025
- He received life without parole plus 9-40 years for conspiracy and probation for evidence tampering
- Four other suspects remain in the case; one has already been sentenced to 20-40 years
- Why it matters: The swift conviction and harsh sentence underscore prosecutors’ zero-tolerance stance on public-gun violence in Allentown
The deadly ambush unfolded around 6:30 p.m. on June 1, 2024, in the 900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Responding officers found Martinez-Velez lifeless on the court, felled by multiple gunshots. Witnesses told investigators two vehicles-a dark Honda and a white car-fled the scene. The shooter, they said, wore a red jacket, black pants and a mask.
Cameras, Plates and Coordinated Arrests
Fountain Park’s network of cameras captured both cars racing away. Detectives froze a frame of the Honda’s license plate and spotted the same red-jacketed passenger described by witnesses. That evidence trail led police to Joel Garcia-Paulino, seen on video emerging from the driver’s seat and helping three accomplices unload items from both vehicles minutes after the killing.
The second car, an Infiniti, was registered to Carlos Nathaniel Landesta-Agramonte. Officers seized both vehicles at Landesta-Agramonte’s home the same night. Subsequent investigative work identified Wilmer Esquiel Marte-Tavarez as a fourth suspect.
Courtroom Outcomes
Landesta-Agramonte pleaded guilty to murder and associated counts on September 29, 2025, accepting a 20- to 40-year state prison term. Garcia-Paulino was arrested October 10 and remains in Lehigh County Jail without bail while awaiting trial.
Estevez Cabrera’s sentencing on January 13, 2026, closes one chapter of the multi-defendant prosecution. Besides the life term for homicide, Judge Maria L. Dantos tacked on a consecutive 9-40 years for conspiracy and a concurrent probationary term for tampering with physical evidence.
What the DA Said
“This defendant showed complete disregard for human life and for the safety of our community,” Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan said in a statement released after the hearing. “The life sentence ensures he will never again endanger the citizens of Allentown.”
Next Steps for Remaining Suspects
Prosecutors have not yet set trial dates for Garcia-Paulino or Marte-Tavarez; both face charges of criminal homicide, conspiracy and weapons violations. A fifth suspect, identified in court filings only as “Co-conspirator #5,” remains at large, prompting continued appeals for public tips.
Key Takeaways
- Life without parole is the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Pennsylvania when prosecutors do not seek the death penalty
- The case relied heavily on municipal camera footage and quick license-plate analysis, showing how surveillance networks aid homicide investigations
- With one co-defendant already sentenced and another jailed without bail, pressure mounts on the remaining suspects to consider plea deals
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the final fugitive is asked to contact Allentown Police or submit an anonymous tip through the News Of Philadelphia tip line.
