WILKES-BARRE — Branden Delcastillo received a sentence of 20 to 40 years in state prison on Monday after fatally shooting Lonnie Davis in September 2024. Delcastillo had pleaded guilty to a general count of criminal homicide.

On March 6, Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. convicted Delcastillo of third-degree murder, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing instruments of crime, and tampering with evidence. The shooting occurred on a downtown Wilkes-Barre street near Livingston Lane and East Northampton Street.

During the proceedings, Assistant District Attorneys Daniel M. Marsh and Anthony Cardone presented dash camera video from a Luzerne County Authority Transportation bus and a Wilkes-Barre City police cruiser. According to testimony, Delcastillo retrieved a firearm from his mother's vehicle and fired at Lonnie Davis after Davis argued with Barbara Montoya, Delcastillo's mother.

Lonnie Davis was struck multiple times, stumbled across the street, and collapsed near the entrance of Movies 14. He was 35 years old at the time of his death and died at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township. Delcastillo was in the area to sell shoes at a store when he encountered Davis.

Davis had been involved in a relationship with Barbara Montoya, which concluded in 2021. Montoya testified that after the relationship ended, Davis sent multiple threatening voicemails and social media messages, including a threat against Delcastillo. Delcastillo's attorneys, John B. Pike and Andrew D. Bigda, presented these voicemails and messages during the trial.

Following his sentencing, Branden Delcastillo yelled, "What just happened?" Assistant District Attorney Daniel M. Marsh stated that Delcastillo has a history of violence and would probably "kill again." Judge Joseph F. Sklarosky Jr. noted that the shooting occurred in "broad day light" on a busy Wilkes-Barre street. Delcastillo was given credit for 658 days served since his arrest.