Pennsylvania Man Facing Murder Charges After Fatal Shooting at Allentown Home
I can’t stop thinking about what must’ve gone through her mind in those final seconds.
Early Tuesday morning, around 5 a.m., police were called to a home on the 700 block of Turner Street in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Inside, they found 22-year-old Jerkera Battle shot in the head. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to police and coroner reports, the cause of death was a gunshot wound — a close-range, intentional act that left no room for doubt. She was killed in her own home, a place that should’ve been safe.
And here’s the part that really hits hard: her child was there. Present in the room. Watching.
It wasn’t a robbery gone wrong. It wasn’t random. This was something darker — something that points to a pattern we’ve seen too many times before in domestic violence cases.
So when you read headlines like “Woman shot in Allentown home”, remember: this isn’t just another story on the news. It’s real, it’s tragic, and it leaves behind more than just a crime scene.
Have you or someone you know ever felt unsafe at home? What do you think needs to change to prevent this from happening again? Drop your thoughts below.
What the Police Found and What the Community Saw?
I kept reading and rereading that Facebook post from the Allentown Police. It was short, almost cold in tone — just the facts. But behind those facts, there’s a storm of pain.
According to the post shared by the Allentown Police Department on Facebook, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Turner Street around 5 a.m. on July 23. They had received a report about a woman shot inside her home.
When they got there, they found 22-year-old Jerkera Battle already unresponsive. The officers did everything by the book, but nothing could be done. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
What shook me even more was reading community reactions in the comment section. People weren’t just shocked — they were angry. Some talked about how quiet that neighborhood used to be. Others pointed out how often violence now hides behind closed doors.
If you live in a place like this — a street that “seems safe” — you probably know that this could happen anywhere. That’s the hardest part to accept.
Who Were They: The Victim and the Man Accused of Killing Her
If you’re anything like me, you don’t just want to know what happened — you want to understand who it happened to.
The woman who died was Jerkera Battle, just 22 years old. The Lehigh County Coroner, Daniel Buglio, confirmed that she died from a gunshot wound to the head. Her name was released a day after the shooting. Her life, just like that, cut short inside her own home.
What’s even more gut-wrenching? Her child was reportedly in the room when it happened. Imagine that for a second — a baby watching something no human should ever see.
The man now facing murder charges is 27-year-old Adam Makowka, from South Whitehall. According to a detailed report by CBS Philadelphia, he was arrested later that day with help from Lansdowne Police, over an hour away from the crime scene.
They didn’t say much about his relationship with Jerkera, but it’s widely believed they were once close — possibly romantically involved. The silence on that detail speaks volumes.
If you’ve ever known someone who couldn’t get out of a toxic situation, this probably hits closer to home than you’d like.
Have you ever felt like your street wasn’t as safe as it seemed? Or seen a neighborhood change overnight? Drop your thoughts below — your voice matters here.
The Arrest That Took Him Down
I kept thinking — how do you shoot someone, leave their child behind, and try to disappear like nothing happened?
Makowka didn’t stick around. After the shooting, he fled Allentown. But police didn’t let him get far.
With help from Lansdowne Police in Delaware County, officers tracked him down outside the city. It was a coordinated effort between multiple departments — Allentown PD, Lehigh County DA’s Office, the Homicide Task Force, and the Coroner’s Office.
They found him, cuffed him, and now he’s awaiting extradition back to Lehigh County to face what’s coming.
If you’re following this case closely, like I am, you probably want justice — not just for Jerkera, but for the child she left behind. The arrest is a start. But it’s just that — a start.
This heartbreaking case reminds me of another one where a Minnesota man admitted to killing his wife while their children were home — the trauma echoes across families in terrifyingly similar ways.
The Charges That Could Define the Rest of His Life
You don’t get charged with murder lightly — and in this case, prosecutors aren’t holding back.
Makowka is facing criminal homicide, attempted homicide, and aggravated assault. That means prosecutors believe this wasn’t an accident, or a moment of rage — but something calculated, something meant to kill.
When I looked into Pennsylvania’s legal definitions, “criminal homicide” can carry life in prison — even the death penalty in some cases. Add attempted homicide and assault, and the case gets even more serious.
You don’t have to be a lawyer to feel the weight of that. If you’ve ever wondered whether the justice system takes these cases seriously — this one will tell you a lot.
Now the process begins: hearings, extradition, the DA building the case. And maybe, eventually, closure — if that’s even possible.
I’ve been tracking more and more stories like this — sometimes before they even hit the big headlines. On WhatsApp, you’ll find early updates, arrest reports, and case twists that most people miss until it’s too late.
Why This Isn’t Just One Story — It’s a Pattern Across Pennsylvania
When I read stories like this one, I can’t help but think about how often they repeat.
Jerkera’s case isn’t an isolated tragedy. In fact, if you look back just a few months, Pennsylvania has seen a disturbing number of similar domestic shootings. Women killed inside homes, often by someone they once trusted.
You might remember the case in Montgomery County — a woman shot trying to leave a violent relationship. Or the woman in North Philadelphia killed with her kids nearby. It’s a pattern that’s hard to ignore.
If you’ve ever thought, “Why don’t they just leave?” — this is your answer. Because sometimes leaving is exactly when the danger peaks.
When I connect the dots, it’s clear we’re not dealing with random violence — we’re looking at a growing crisis. And if you live in this state, especially as a woman, that truth hits hard.
Just recently, McAllen Police were also searching for a suspect in an armed home robbery — another reminder that home invasions and domestic crimes are rising across different states.
What Happens Next — and Why You Should Stay Tuned
Right now, Adam Makowka is in custody. But what happens next isn’t just about a court date — it’s about whether this system actually delivers justice.
He’s currently awaiting extradition back to Lehigh County. That means the official criminal proceedings haven’t even started yet — no arraignment, no trial date. But trust me, they’re coming.
You might be wondering — will he get bail? Will the DA push for the maximum sentence? Will more facts come out in court?
I’m watching all of it, and if you are too, keep checking back. Because these cases often unfold slowly. And sometimes, new evidence changes everything.
If you’ve ever followed a story like this only to see it disappear from headlines — I promise, we won’t let that happen here.
In fact, just weeks earlier, a Philadelphia man was critically wounded outside his home in a suspected targeted shooting — proving that gun violence is becoming deeply personal and disturbingly frequent in Pennsylvania neighborhoods.
What We Know So Far — And What We’re Still Waiting To Learn
If you’ve made it this far, you probably feel what I feel — heartbroken, angry, and searching for clarity.
As of now, Adam Makowka remains in custody. He hasn’t entered a plea. No court date has been set. Investigators are still putting the pieces together — and so are we.
Authorities involved include the Allentown Police Department, Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, Homicide Task Force, and Coroner’s Office. That’s a serious lineup, and it tells me they’re treating this case with the weight it deserves.
But here’s what I’ll always remind you: until a trial is held, and a court delivers judgment, Makowka is legally presumed innocent. That’s not a loophole — it’s the law.
Still, I’ll keep watching this story. And if you’re reading this because you care about justice, safety, or simply want to understand the truth — stick around. We’ll keep you posted.
Want more real, no-fluff reporting on home security and domestic violence? Visit our Home Security section for updates that matter.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on official police reports and news sources available. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Details may evolve as the investigation continues.
