The Newark man, formerly from Easton, is accused in a shooting during a drug deal-turned-robbery, police say. Watch video
The suspect in a March shooting in Easton was formally charged Tuesday and sent to Northampton County Prison, authorities said.
Lamont D. Baker (New Jersey Department of Corrections photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)Lamont D. Baker, 24, of Newark, was taken into custody April 5 in Newark in the shooting. Formerly of Easton, he was on parole at the time after pleading guilty in 2008 to a 2007 home invasion in Phillipsburg, during which he stabbed a 70-year-old man and the victim's dog.
Prior to Tuesday, Baker had been locked up in New Jersey because his alleged involvement in the Easton robbery-attempted-homicide violated his parole. Sentenced to seven years in prison in the Phillipsburg crime, he was paroled Feb. 6, 2014.
Gunman in Easton shooting arrested in Newark, cops say
He was arraigned in the Easton case Tuesday before District Judge Richard Yetter III on five felonies: attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy and prohibited possession of a firearm.
Yetter denied Baker bail due to the attempted homicide charge and tentatively set a preliminary hearing in the case for Oct. 7.
Baker is accused, about 2:30 a.m. March 18 in the 1200 block of Ferry Street, of shooting a 38-year-old Easton man after the victim bought crack cocaine from a woman and a robbery ensued, police had said.
The victim was taken to Easton Hospital. His condition was unavailable Tuesday.
The woman who sold the drugs has not been charged in the incident, according to court records.
She is described as black, about 25 years old, standing 5 feet to 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 125 to 130 pounds with long red-and-black hair, police said. If anyone knows her, they can call the police tip line at 610-250-6635 or Easton detectives at 610-250-6780.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.