MONROE COUNTY, Pa. (WOLF) — A birthday party in the Poconos turned deadly when an argument erupted into gunfire, leaving one man dead and three suspects facing homicide charges. Authorities say the suspects, linked to a dangerous criminal organization, fired multiple shots, killing 22-year-old Lionardo Hernandez Zarata.
The violent incident occurred on January 12 at a short-term rental home on Clover Road in Long Pond. Pocono Mountain Regional Police responded to reports of multiple gunshot victims, only to find the home abandoned, a door left open, and blood staining the entrance. Inside, officers discovered Zarata’s lifeless body—shot eight times.
A Party Turned Deadly
Investigators revealed that the rental home had been the site of a multi-day party involving narcotics trafficking, including a substance known as pink cocaine (Tusi). Authorities identified the suspects as:
- Oscar Quilarque Sosa, 31
- Oswaldo Solorzano Sosa, 37
- Josthin Landaeta Perez, 24
According to officials, the violence stemmed from a dispute over payment. Zarata had hired a DJ for the event, Jesus Oliveros Sosa—the brother of two suspects. When the DJ claimed he had not been paid, his brothers arrived at the scene, escalating tensions into a deadly shootout.
FBI Links Suspects to Criminal Network
The FBI became involved after linking Oscar Sosa to a separate federal investigation. He was arrested in New York on January 13, where authorities found three firearms in his vehicle, including a modified Glock capable of automatic fire—matching weapons used in the shooting.
Monroe County District Attorney Mike Mancuso confirmed that the suspects are tied to Tren de Aragua (TDA), a notorious international criminal network.
“This is a big case,” Mancuso stated, adding that extensive forensic analysis is underway. Investigators have recovered multiple cell phones, firearms, and other evidence, with FBI assistance providing critical leads.
With two suspects in custody and one still at large, law enforcement is working tirelessly to bring justice to the victim and his family.
