Murder of Easton DJ Goes to Grand Jury

Northampton County's grand jury is investigating the killing of an Easton DJ from last November, District Attorney John Morganelli said Thursday.

Ervin Holton, who used the was shot to death November 23, 2012 on the city's South Side.

For the last few weeks, the grand jury has been hearing testimony related to the shooting, Morganelli said. 

The grand jury, the prosecutor said, can do things the police can't.

"Witnesses are not required to speak to the police if they don't want to," he said. "With the grand jury, if we send a subpoena to someone, they have to show up." 

And when they do, they need to testify, or face perjury. They can invoke their Fifth Amendment right against self incrimination, but Morganelli said they can also recieve immunity.

Earlier this year, a grand jury helped close another 2012 homicide. 

Matthew Kelly, 20, of Bethlehem, was shot and killed by a man named Brian Simmons during a drug deal in the West Ward on April 1 of last year.

In March, the grand jury declined to charge Simmons, ruling that Kelly had "participated in his own death" by trying to ambush him. Simmons had been shot and stabbed during the attack.

One of the key witnesses in that case had immunity when she testified about taking part in that ambush.

Holton, 43, of S. Ninth Street, Easton, died of multiple gunshot wounds after being shot on the 100 block of W. St. Joseph Street. Two men were spotted running from the scene. 

His killing was followed by another as-yet-unsolved homicide a little more than a week later. near McKeen and Nesquehoning streets December 2.