UPDATE 2: What police say led to fatal shotgun blast

UPDATE 1: The Lehigh County Coroner's Office early Thursday identified the victim as Charles Hughes III of Allentown. Hughes died from a gunshot wound to the body and his death was ruled a homicide, Coroner Scott Grim said. An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday.

Allentown police quickly on Wednesday took the suspect into custody in a fatal, late morning shooting.

Curtis Nathan Thomas, 36, no current address, is accused of killing the 32-year-old male victim with a shotgun blast to the body about 11:54 a.m. at South Ninth and Wyoming streets, according to police Capt. Bill Lake.

The Lehigh County Coroner's Office pronounced the victim, who was from Allentown, dead at the scene. His name was being withheld pending positive identification and notification of family, Coroner Scott Grim had said.

Police were investigating reports a road rage incident preceded the gunfire.

Officers responding to the reported shooting found the victim lying near the road, Lake said. Witnesses provided a description of the alleged shooter's vehicle, and patrol officers quickly spotted a pickup truck matching the description.

Thomas allegedly fled from police before crashing off the road at North Fifth and Turner streets, police said.

He was taken into custody at the crash and was being arraigned Wednesday night on charges of homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm, drug possession with intent to deliver and fleeing or attempting to elude police.

Thomas was to be held in Lehigh County Jail. There is no bail allowed because of the homicide charge.

Allentown police investigated the homicide with the coroner's office, Lehigh County District Attorney's Office and Lehigh County Homicide Task Force.

The arrest marks the second in a week in an Allentown homicide.

District Attorney Jim Martin and police Chief Glen Dorney, flanked by investigators, announced Oct. 25 the arrest of 65-year-old Leon Wilson on a voluntary manslaughter charge for allegedly stabbing to death 37-year-old Chanelle Allen, the daughter of Wilson's ex-girlfriend, during an altercation at Wilson's home, 1325 W. Gordon St.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.