Man found guilty of Father’s Day 2022 shooting at Catasauqua Park

A Bethlehem man was found guilty Wednesday of shooting outside a playground at Catasauqua Park on Father’s Day two years ago.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said in a news release that Kian Deater, 21, was convicted on charges related to the June 19, 2022, shooting in the 500 block of American Street.

Deater was found guilty of attempted aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and prohibited possession of a firearm. He faces a maximum sentence of 51 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September.

The shooting happened about 6:45 p.m. near a playground at the park, which was filled with adults and children, including a group of people playing basketball, the release states. Deater fired into an occupied vehicle near the basketball courts, according to the DA.

Video surveillance showed Deater firing at the vehicle and several people fleeing the park, police said. He was arrested shortly after, and police found a loaded gun nearby.

He was on parole for a June 2019 shooting in Emmaus at the time of the Catasauqua shooting.

Bethlehem man charged in shooting incident near Catasauqua Park, police say