READING, Pa. – A Reading man has been charged in a double homicide that took place at a party being held inside a neighborhood garage.
31-year-old Raul Perez-Diaz is charged with first and third-degree murder, aggravated assault and related offenses.
In the early morning hours of September 27, Reading Police responded to the 800 block of Nicolls Street for a report of gunfire and people fleeing the area.
Arriving officers found two male shooting victims lying face down on the ground outside of a garage in the block. The men later died of their injuries and were pronounced dead at Reading Hospital.
Authorities have identified the victims as 25-year-old Victor Urena-Yami and 21-year-old Victor Jimenez.
Several spent bullet casings and bullet fragments were found at the scene, according to court documents.
Through a review of surveillance footage, investigators determined there was party taking place at the garage just prior to the shooting.
Police say a silver sedan was seen on video pulling up to the garage and four partygoers approached it, appearing to have some kind of interaction with its occupants.
A short time later, police say three individuals were seen exiting the car, and a volley of 10-12 gunshots were then heard on the video as the crowd quickly dispersed. Additional shots were also heard on video before the sedan fled the scene. Police have identified Perez-Diaz as the driver.
Perez-Diaz was later located by police at the Reading Hospital Trauma Center where he was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
31-year-old Raul Perez-Diaz
According to court documents, Perez-Diaz told police he and two individuals drove from another party to the gathering on Nicolls Street. The suspects alleges that an unknown male confronted him and questioned why he was there. After telling the man he was leaving shortly, Perez-Diaz says he felt something strike him in the back and turned around to see two men point guns at him and shooting. Perez-Diaz told police he drew his gun and returned fire, estimating he shot between 10 and 15 times.
After returning home and realizing he’d been shot in the back, Perez-Diaz called a taxi to transport him to the hospital.
Witnesses at the garage told police they were at the location celebrating a woman’s birthday when Perez-Diaz showed up and started arguing with one of the victims. A witness also alleges Perez-Diaz drew his gun and fired first at the victim, who eventually returned fire. The second victim was then allegedly shot by the suspect when they approached the first victim’s body. A bullet recovered from the body of the first victim matched a gun police allegedly recovered from Perez-Diaz’s home.
Police say over 20 shots were fired during the incident.
Perez-Diaz declined to identify the two other individuals police allege were with him during the incident, saying he knew them for several months but didn’t know their names.
Online court records list Perez-Diaz as not in custody at this time.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police or Crime Alert Berks.