Reading police have charged a 24-year-old man with attempted homicide and conspiracy in the shooting of his one-time friend outside a city tavern last week.
The Jan. 22 shooting was the second time in two days the victim had come under fire. The suspect in both incidents, Efrain A. Diaz-Gonzalez, had a conflict with him over a debt Diaz-Gonzalez allegedly owed him, police said.
Diaz-Gonzalez, whose last known address was in the 1100 block of Union Street, was committed to Berks County Jail without bail to await a hearing following arraignment Thursday night before District Judge Steven M. Chieffo in Reading Central Court.
Diaz-Gonzalez was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and firearms offenses in both incidents. Additionally, he faces attempted homicide, conspiracy, arson and criminal mischief in the second case.
The arson is related to setting the victim’s truck on fire in the 200 block of North 10th Street before the victim, having caught him in the act, was shot by a masked male standing in an alleyway while the victim chased Diaz-Gonzalez, police said.
According to the probable cause affidavit:
The victim identified Diaz-Gonzalez as the man who fired several shots at him the afternoon of Jan. 21 as he drove his truck in the 600 block of South Ninth Street. The victim and his passenger escaped unharmed by driving off.
After that incident, police obtained an arrest warrant for Diaz-Gonzalez. City police officers and the Berks County Emergency Response Team went to a Muhlenberg Township motel where Diaz-Gonzalez was believed to have been staying, but he wasn’t in his room.
Just after midnight on Jan. 22, the victim was leaving a bar at 10th and Elm streets when two masked men came from an alleyway. One of them walked to the driver’s side of the victim’s truck, smashed the window and set the vehicle on fire.
As the victim chased the male, whose physical appearance was similar to Diaz-Gonzalez, he noticed a masked male in the alleyway. The victim heard the male he was chasing say in Spanish, “Shoot at him,” and immediately recognized the voice as Diaz-Gonzalez’s.
The unidentified male shot the victim in the left shoulder. The assailants fled.
The victim was taken by ambulance to Reading Hospital. Information on his medical condition was unavailable.
In the hospital, he told police that he and Diaz-Gonzalez had shared a residence for about six months. Their friendship turned to conflict when the victim demanded Diaz-Gonzalez pay back money he had loaned to him.
Police recovered a discharged bullet casing in the alleyway.
The city fire marshal’s office determined the fire was intentionally set.
Reading police filed attempted homicide and arson charges against Diaz-Gonzalez on Jan. 23 but did not take him into custody until Thursday. Arrest details were unavailable.