Man Sentenced In Bethlehem Social Club Shooting

EASTON, Pa. (AP) — A man has been sentenced to 15½ to 31 years in a shootout at social club in Bethlehem that killed a woman and injured other people two years ago.

Thirty-four-year-old Rene Figueroa of Allentown was sentenced Friday in Northampton County on an involuntary manslaughter conviction in the December 2012 shooting outside Bethlehem's Puerto Rican Beneficial Society.

Jurors last fall rejected a first-degree murder conviction sought by prosecutors in the slaying of 23-year-old Yolanda Morales.

Figueroa on Friday apologized to the victims' relatives. Defense attorney Jack McMahon called the sentence fair but added that an appeal is planned.

Figueroa still faces charges that he solicited a prison inmate to kill trial witnesses.

Several people were arrested outside the courtroom Friday after a fight between relatives of the defendant and others.