READING, Pa. – Authorities say Raul Perez-Diaz is now in custody, days after police issued an arrest warrant for his alleged role in a deadly double shooting in Reading.
Reading man charged in double homicide at Nicolls Street garage party
Berks County District Attorney John Adams says Perez-Diaz turned himself in Tuesday afternoon at Central Processing inside the Berks County Courthouse.
“He had been wanted for two counts of first-degree murder, third-degree murder, aggravated assault, and related charges,” Adams said.
Investigators say the shooting happened around 6 a.m. on September 27th during what they describe as an after-hours party in the 800 block of Nicolls Street.
Two men, Victor Ureña-Yami, 25, and Victor Jiménez, 21, were killed.
“It was a shootout… at least two guns involved, and not the type of incident that we should have in our community,” Adams said. “Two people lost their life. The defendant himself was shot, treated at Reading Hospital, and released.”
“Looking for information”: Two dead, one wounded after shooting in Reading
Authorities say Perez-Diaz initially told investigators he fired in self-defense, but forensic testing linked his weapon to the fatal shots.
“One of those guns… was possessed by the defendant, Raul Perez-Diaz. That gun was recovered at his apartment after the incident,” Adams said.
The district attorney says the violence started after people left another late-night gathering, fueled by alcohol and guns.
“Nothing good happens after midnight,” Adams said. “Having people drinking all evening with guns… what’s it result in? Tragedy.”
Perez-Diaz is being held in the Berks County Jail without bail while awaiting a preliminary hearing. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Reading Police or Crime Alert Berks County.