Nazareth High Student Charged in Armed Robbery

Kewdy Andre Santa-Mella, an 18-year-old Nazareth Area High School student, is accused of being the wheelman during a $120 armed robbery of another high school student, according to a criminal complaint.

“We also have viable leads to definitively identify and pursue for apprehension a second perpetrator,” Detective Frederick Lahovski of Nazareth Borough Police said today.

An arrest warrant was issued Monday for Santa-Mella, who is now in Northampton County Prison under $25,000 bail.

He is charged with robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, possessing instruments of crime, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal conspiracy.

In an affidavit, the juvenile victim reported that he was walking in the area of N. Cedar and E. Chestnut streets on April 13 when a black BMW pulled up to him.

Through the open driver-side window, the youth recognized Santa-Mella as the driver. Lahovski said both Santa-Mella and the victim are students at Nazareth High School.

According to the report, there was also a female in the front passenger seat, and two males in the back.

The victim told police that one of the males in the back got out of the car, walked around to the driver’s side and pointed a black semi-automatic pistol at his head from two feet away.

The man told the victim to empty his pockets, and the juvenile removed $120 cash and handed it to the gunman, according to the affidavit.

The victim then reported the male with the gun got in the front seat, and Santa-Mella drove the car away.

Based on that information, Santa-Mella was arrested. Lahovski said a second arrest is imminent.