Shikellamy police chief's work leads to arrest in 2020 homicide in Luzerne County

Francis Scarcella, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

Feb. 16—SUNBURY — A 29-year-old West Hazleton man is in police custody after being accused of murder by former state police corporal and current Shikellamy Police Chief Shawn Williams and members of the state police.

The Luzerne County District Attorney's Office reported Friday that Giovanni Morales was arrested in Connecticut after fleeing the area in 2020 for allegedly killing Jonathan Hernandez, 29, in West Hazleton in June 2020.

State police and Williams, a former Luzerne County detective, worked together on a criminal complaint released Friday saying police attempted to apprehend Morales who was living under an alias in the New York metro area, the release said.

Williams, who is one of the arresting officers, said in a criminal complaint, authorities were called on June 27, 2020, to a West Hazleton address for a welfare check and found Hernandez deceased.

An investigation began and according to a criminal complaint Morales is accused of inflicting severe physical trauma to Hernandez's body, head and face causing his death.

Williams, who stayed active in the case for the past three and a half years, was informed Morales was arrested several weeks ago and was brought back to Luzerne County to be arraigned, he said.

Williams, who is introducing his third Law Enforcement Week to Shikellamy students beginning Tuesday, said the prosecutor in the most recent homicide case, Luzerne County Deputy District Attorney Dan Zola, will be one of the guest speakers. Presentations will be conducted all week at the high school to the more than 50 students in Williams' law enforcement club.

"I am proud to be part of the investigative team that solved this case," Williams said Friday. "I am very fortunate the Pennsylvania State Police and the prosecuting team continued to keep me updated every step of the way."

Williams said he is looking forward to law enforcement week and students will enjoy some of the presentations, including listening to long time prosecutor Zola.

Zola will help prosecute the recent case with Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Drew McLaughlin.