A 44-year-old Emmaus man was charged Dec. 16 with homicide in the 1998 death of an Allentown store owner.

John Milton Edinger, of 954 Glenwood St., was charged in the July 22, 1998, fatal shooting of Adel Malek, 59, the owner of Apotheca Store, 1341 Union St., Allentown.

Edinger was to be arraigned in the Lehigh County Central Booking Center Dec. 16.

The homicide was investigated by Allentown police detectives and the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Homicide Task Force.

An affidavit of probable cause alleges:

At about 12:54 p.m. July 22, 1998, police and emergency medical personnel responded to the store for a report of a man down inside the store. Police found Malek inside the store.

Malek, who had multiple gunshot wounds to his body, was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township, where he died.

An autopsy determined Malek died of multiple gunshot wounds. Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim ruled the manner of death to be homicide.

During the investigation, Edinger was identified as a suspect and information developed in the investigation led police to Edinger.

On Dec. 16, Edinger stated he shot the victim.

As in every criminal case, the fact an arrest has occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation; and the defendant, John Milton Edinger, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.