ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Two men have been convicted in connection with a February 2025 shooting outside an Allentown after-hours club that left one man dead and three other people wounded.
After hours of deliberation, a Lehigh County jury found Pedro Junior Paulino and David Rivera guilty of homicide, attempted murder and other related charges stemming from the shooting at the BKK Lounge on Union Boulevard.
Allentown Police were dispatched to the club shortly after 4 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2025, following reports of multiple people being shot.
Responding officers found four victims—three men and one woman—suffering from gunshot wounds outside the club.
One of the victims, 32-year-old Ivan Diaz Jr. of Lower Macungie Township, died from multiple gunshot wounds. Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio ruled his death a homicide.
Investigators said an argument began inside the club before security personnel attempted to remove those involved. Authorities said Paulino and Rivera then retrieved handguns from the vehicle in which they had arrived.
Surveillance video showed Paulino firing a handgun toward the victims, according to investigators. Rivera was also seen removing a handgun from his sweatshirt pocket and firing at multiple people.
Investigators recovered two different calibers of shell casings outside the club. Authorities identified Paulino and Rivera through surveillance footage, distinctive clothing, tattoos and social media posts.
The surveillance video was played for jurors during the trial.
During closing arguments, defense attorneys said Diaz had been drinking while working security and was not dressed in a way that clearly identified him as a security guard. The defense also argued that Diaz had acted aggressively.
Prosecutors argued that Rivera and Paulino were looking for a confrontation, pointing to evidence that Rivera became involved in a fight within minutes of entering the club. Prosecutors said both defendants had an opportunity to leave but instead returned with firearms and opened fire.
According to Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan, Rivera was convicted of first-degree murder, while Paulino was convicted of third-degree murder.
Both men were also convicted of three counts each of attempted murder, three counts each of aggravated assault and felony charges of carrying firearms without a license.
Rivera faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with the possibility of at least 30 additional years in state prison.
Paulino faces a possible sentence of 50 to 100 years in state prison.
Both men are scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 9, 2026.
