A weekend argument between neighbors on a second-story balcony in Coatesville ended in tragedy, and now one man is facing a slate of serious charges. Prosecutors say 53-year-old Neftali Feliciano-Perez was charged Monday after a Saturday night confrontation left 43-year-old Moises Galarza-Bermudez fatally injured. The encounter ended with both men plunging from the balcony to the pavement below, and Galarza-Bermudez later died at the hospital. Feliciano-Perez is now facing multiple homicide and assault counts in connection with the incident.
The Chester County District Attorney's Office says the dispute unfolded around 9:51 p.m. Saturday on the 700 block of East Lincoln Highway in Coatesville. According to prosecutors, Feliciano-Perez allegedly shoved Galarza-Bermudez into the balcony railing, which gave way and sent both men crashing to the sidewalk. First responders found Galarza-Bermudez with head trauma and no pulse, and he was later pronounced dead at the hospital, as reported by NBC10 Philadelphia.
Prosecutors have charged Feliciano-Perez with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, according to reporting by WHTM. He was arraigned and is being held at Chester County Prison on $750,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 29, according to the outlet.
"This is the case of an altercation that got out of control," County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement, offering condolences to the victim's family, according to WHTM. Investigators say they are still gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses in the lead-up to that hearing.
Legal Implications
Under Pennsylvania law, murder of the third degree is defined as "all other kinds of murder" and is classified as a felony of the first degree under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 25. Involuntary manslaughter, which covers causing death by reckless or grossly negligent conduct, appears at 18 Pa.C.S. § 2504. A conviction for third-degree murder can carry a prison term of up to 40 years under state sentencing law, while involuntary manslaughter and the assault counts carry lower statutory maximums. Those differences in potential punishment are expected to influence how prosecutors frame the case, consistent with the statutes and court decisions referenced by legal analysts.
What's Next
Feliciano-Perez is set to appear before a magisterial judge for his preliminary hearing on April 29. If the judge finds sufficient evidence, the case would be sent to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas for potential indictment and trial. The District Attorney's Office says the investigation remains active and has urged anyone with information to contact Coatesville police, as reported by NBC10 Philadelphia.
