Palmer Man Murdered Woman in West Ward Last Month, Police Say

Khamir De’Lapara, 20, of the will be charged
with criminal homicide in the shooting death
of Amanda Stratford, who was found shot to
death in a green pickup truck parked in the
Peach Street alley near Ferry and South
13th streets in Easton's West Ward
on September 22.
Contributed photo

A man arrested and charged with drug offenses after a raid at a South Side Easton residence early this morning is the person that murdered Amanda Stratford, who was found shot to death in a pickup truck on Peach Street late at night on September 22, police say.

Khamir De’Lapara, 20, of the will be charged with criminal homicide in the case, Easton Police Lieutenant Matt Gerrould said in a media release Friday afternoon. He said the charges came after EPD Crime Unit detectives continued the investigation after a warranted search early this morning at 315 Palmer St. and have determined that De’Lapara shot Stratford resulting in her death.

De’Lapara, of the 2700 block of Victoria Lane in Palmer Township, is expected to be arraigned on charges later today, police said earlier.

Two Arrested in South Side Drug Raid

Easton police arrested two people early this morning during a warranted search of a home in the city's South Side neighborhood.

Authorities say Kelly Craven, 31, and Kahmir DeLapara, 20, were both arrested after the Easton Police Special Response Unit and Vice Unit discovered undisclosed amounts of heroin, crack cocaine, and marijuana at 315 Palmer St. They added the drugs were packaged in a manner consistent with intent to resell the substances.

Both were taken into custody and are going to be charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, as well as conspiracy to possess heroin.

Each is expected to be arraigned today in front of District Magistate Daniel Corpora.

Easton Police Crime Unit detectives also assisted during the search, in hopes of locating possible evidence relating to the homicide death of Amanda Stratford, which occurred on September 22 on Peach Street in the city's West Ward district , police said. No one has yet been charged in the crime.

No one was injured during the raid, police noted.