A man has been charged after he pushed another man off of a balcony at an apartment building in Coatesville, causing him to fall to his death, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office said on Monday.
The incident occurred at around 9:51 p.m. On Saturday, April 18, at the 700 block of East Lincoln Highway, prosecutors said.
When officers arrived, they found Moises Galarza-Bermudez lying on the sidewalk with head trauma and no pulse. According to prosecutors, Galarza-Bermudez was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Investigators later determined that 53-year-old Neftali Feliciano-Perez and Galarza-Bermudez got into an argument on a second-story balcony. During the altercation, Feliciano-Perez pushed Galarza-Bermudez, causing the railing to break. Both men then fell to the concrete, prosecutors said.
Feliciano-Perez has been charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and related charges. He remains in custody on $750,000 bail, prosecutors said.
Details of the Coatesville balcony incident
According to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, the altercation between Neftali Feliciano-Perez and Moises Galarza-Bermudez began on a second-floor balcony of an apartment building located at the 700 block of East Lincoln Highway in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. The incident was reported to authorities just before 10 p.m. On Saturday, April 18, 2025. Emergency responders arrived to locate Galarza-Bermudez unresponsive on the pavement below, suffering from severe head trauma. Despite medical intervention, he was declared dead shortly after arrival at a local hospital.
Investigators stated that witness accounts and physical evidence indicated the two men had been arguing before Feliciano-Perez shoved Galarza-Bermudez with sufficient force to break the balcony railing. The structural failure caused both individuals to fall from the second story onto the concrete sidewalk below. Feliciano-Perez sustained injuries but survived, while Galarza-Bermudez did not.
The Chester County Coroner’s Office later confirmed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head consistent with a fall from height. No weapons were involved in the altercation, and investigators said there was no indication of premeditation beyond the immediate confrontation.
Charges and legal proceedings
Following the investigation, Neftali Feliciano-Perez, 53, of Coatesville, was taken into custody and charged with third-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and aggravated assault. The charges were formally announced by the Chester County District Attorney’s Office in a press release issued on Monday, April 20, 2025.
Under Pennsylvania law, third-degree murder applies when a person causes the death of another through an act that is inherently dangerous and done with malice, but without the specific intent to kill. Involuntary manslaughter charges may apply when a death results from reckless or grossly negligent actions. Feliciano-Perez is being held without bail at the Chester County Prison pending a preliminary hearing.
Court records indicate that Feliciano-Perez has no prior criminal record in Chester County. His initial court appearance was scheduled for the week following his arrest, though no public transcript of that proceeding has been released as of this writing.
Community and law enforcement response
Local residents expressed shock over the incident, noting that the East Lincoln Highway corridor is typically a quiet residential area with low levels of violent crime. Community leaders called for calm and urged anyone with additional information to come forward to assist investigators.
The Coatesville Police Department, which responded to the scene, stated that the investigation remains active and that they are continuing to review surveillance footage from nearby buildings and interview potential witnesses. Detectives have not identified any prior relationship between the two men that would suggest a ongoing dispute.
In a statement, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office emphasized that the charges reflect the findings of a thorough investigation and that the case will proceed through the criminal justice system in accordance with state law. The office also reminded the public that violent altercations, even those that begin verbally, can have irreversible consequences.
What happens next in the case
The next formal step in the legal process is a preliminary hearing, during which a magisterial district judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial. As of the latest available information, that hearing has not yet been scheduled, though We see expected to occur within the coming weeks.
Until then, Feliciano-Perez remains incarcerated. The Chester County Prison has not released any additional details about his condition or housing status, citing standard security and privacy protocols.
Members of the public who wish to monitor the case can contact the Chester County Clerk of Courts Office for updates on filings and hearing dates. Official case information is also available through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System’s public portal.
This incident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly a verbal disagreement can escalate into irreversible violence. Authorities continue to encourage conflict resolution and urge individuals to walk away from confrontations before they turn physical.
If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Coatesville Police Department or the Chester County District Attorney’s Office.