Pennsylvania Man Charged with Murder After Shooting Ex-Girlfriend in Front of Infant Son


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ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A Pennsylvania man faces serious charges following a deadly shooting in an Allentown apartment, where authorities allege he killed his ex-girlfriend in front of their 3-month-old child and another individual, amid a custody dispute.

Court documents and police reports detail that 27-year-old Adam Makowka, of South Whitehall Township, accessed the apartment of Jerkera Battle, his former girlfriend and the mother of his child, through a rooftop fire escape in the 700 block of West Turner Street. On the morning of July 22, 2025, Makowka allegedly entered the apartment armed with an AR-15-style rifle and opened fire in a bedroom where Battle, her 3-month-old son, and a man, identified as Joshuah Hoffner, were present.

According to investigators, Hoffner attempted to intervene by grabbing the barrel of the rifle, but Makowka discharged the weapon until it was empty. Multiple shell casings were found near the bedroom door, along with a gray sweatshirt and a black rifle case on the roof near the access point. Surveillance footage captured Makowka arriving at approximately 3:45 a.m. in his Honda Civic, carrying the rifle case and wearing the sweatshirt, before fleeing the scene around 4:20 a.m. without them.
Jerkera Battle, 22, was found dead in the apartment’s hallway, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds, including a fatal shot to the head. The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, led by Daniel A. Buglio, ruled her death a homicide following an autopsy on July 23, 2025. Miraculously, both the infant and Hoffner were unharmed.

Makowka was apprehended around 6:30 a.m. on July 22, approximately 60 miles away in Hoffman Park, Lansdowne, Delaware County. Lansdowne police, assisted by Sgt. Michael Kester and Officer Lucas Murray, located Makowka in his vehicle, which matched descriptions provided by Allentown authorities. He was taken into custody with non-life-threatening, self-inflicted injuries and received medical treatment under police escort before being held for extradition to Lehigh County.

Makowka faces charges of criminal homicide, attempted criminal homicide, and two counts of aggravated assault. Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan noted that additional charges may be filed as the investigation progresses. Court documents indicate Makowka’s intent was to kill both the infant and Hoffner, driven by a custody dispute over the 3-month-old child he shared with Battle.

The tragedy has sparked outrage and grief in the community. A neighbor and friend of Battle, speaking to 69 News, described her as a daily presence who confided about prior abuse by Makowka, including an incident where her windshield was shattered with a baseball bat. Social media posts from Battle’s friends, including videos calling for justice, allege a history of emotional and physical abuse during her relationship with Makowka, as well as stalking behavior post-breakup. One friend, advocating for first-degree murder charges, stated, “She didn’t deserve this,” emphasizing the premeditated nature of the act.

A GoFundMe campaign, launched on July 23, 2025, to support Battle’s family and cover funeral expenses, has raised approximately $4,200 of its $5,500 goal as of July 25. The fundraiser highlighted Battle’s resilience, noting she lost her own mother young and was raised by her grandmother alongside her brothers. Her family emphasized that her son, who survived the incident, was her “light,” and he will now be raised by her oldest brother.

The ongoing investigation involves the Allentown Police Department, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office. Makowka is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on July 29, 2025, and remains in custody without bail at Lehigh County Jail.

This heartbreaking incident highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence, leaving a community mourning the loss of a young mother and raising urgent calls for justice and prevention.

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