Dec. 13—WILKES-BARRE — Dash camera footage from a Luzerne County Transportation Authority bus showed Branden Delcastillo following Lonnie Davis on East Northampton Street around 3:35 p.m., Sept. 9.
Just seconds after the bus passed them near the Movies 14 theater complex, Assistant District Attorneys Daniel M. Marsh and Anthony Cardone say 28-year-old Delcastillo fired multiple shots at 35-year-old Davis, who died at Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township. .
The bus’s camera footage and a recording of Delcastillo’s interrogation by Wilkes-Barre Detectives James Conmy and Joseph Sinavage were played Friday during a preliminary hearing before District Judge Thomas Malloy at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
After nearly two hours of testimony, Malloy decided that prosecutors had brought a case against Delcastillo, sending an open murder charge and charges of firearms not to be carried without a permit, possession of instruments of crime and tampering with evidence to district court.
Malloy dismissed a terroristic threat charge against Delcastillo.
Delcastillo’s attorney, Thomas C. Clemens of Philadelphia, argued that video footage presented at the preliminary hearing did not, at best, show premeditation in unsuccessfully getting a first-degree murder charge dismissed.
John Nolan, who worked at a restaurant on Livingston Lane, testified that he noticed a woman, identified as Barbara Montoya, Delcastillo’s mother, and Davis arguing in the area of Livingston Lane and East Northampton Street.
Nolan said he couldn’t hear what the argument was about, but saw a Hispanic man with dark black hair and facial tattoos intervene. Nolan then said he saw the man with facial tattoos brandish a firearm and fire several shots before getting into a Nissan Rogue and driving away.
Nolan said he had the license plate number, shouted at a co-worker to call 911, and was one of several good Samaritans who helped Davis, who had crossed the street and collapsed near the entrance to Movies 14.
According to court records, there was a long-standing feud between Davis and Delcastillo. Davis previously had a relationship with Delcastillo’s mother.
Delcastillo was carrying boxes of shoes he wanted to sell at a nearby store when he encountered Davis.
After Delcastillo was captured by Kingston police, he was interrogated by Conmy and Sinavage.
During the 45-minute interrogation, Delcastillo admitted to having a confrontation with Davis, claimed he “went black,” and dismantled the firearm he threw into the Susquehanna River.
District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce previously said the firearm was a .45-caliber handgun.
Coroner Jill Mathews said an autopsy showed Davis had multiple gunshot wounds to his torso. His death was ruled a criminal homicide.
Delcastillo’s attorney argued that his client was defending himself when Davis pulled a knife.
Conmy testified that two knives were found in the area where Davis collapsed.
Delcastillo remains jailed without bail at the county correctional facility.
