Bethlehem man sentenced 3 to 9 years for Musikfest shooting

Joshua Nathaniel Colon, a 24-year-old from Bethlehem, was sentenced to three to nine years in state prison for a shooting that occurred during the Musikfest festival on August 13, 2022. Colon pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, with the plea agreement influenced by the victim's refusal to cooperate with the investigation. The shooting, which injured 20-year-old Jathaniel Lopez, was determined to be a result of a dispute between two groups and not a random act, as confirmed by Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan. Witnesses reported chaos at the festival, with attendees fleeing the scene after the gunfire. Following the incident, the festival reopened the next day, but some attendees remained shaken by the event. Musikfest is set to take place again from August 1-10, 2025, featuring various artists.