A Reading man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting early Sunday morning after authorities said he fled to New Jersey and was preparing to board a flight to the Dominican Republic.
Officers with the Reading Police Department responded to the 1400 block of North 5th Street at approximately 3:40 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, for a reported shooting. Initial emergency dispatch information indicated a male had been shot after a vehicle drove by the area.
According to police, officers arrived to find a single victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by Reading EMS.
The Berks County Coroner’s Office said the victim was a 32-year-old man. A deputy coroner was requested to the scene at 8:02 a.m., and the victim was officially pronounced dead at 8:37 a.m. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3, at Reading Hospital.
The coroner’s office said the victim has been positively identified, but his identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and to allow the family time to grieve.
Reading police said criminal investigators identified the suspect as Federico Perez Polanco, 43, of Reading.
Federico Perez Polanco, 43, of Reading
According to investigators, Perez Polanco fled to New Jersey after the shooting and booked a flight to the Dominican Republic that was scheduled to depart Sunday evening.
Police said a coordinated effort involving the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Transportation Security Administration, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office, and the Port Authority Police Department of New York and New Jersey led to Perez Polanco’s arrest while he was waiting to board the flight.
Perez Polanco is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania, where he will face a charge of first-degree murder.
As with all criminal cases, Perez Polanco is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mayor Eddie Morán praised the efforts of law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation while offering condolences to the victim’s family.
“I want to thank the members of the Reading Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners for their quick and coordinated efforts to locate and apprehend the suspect. While today’s arrest is an important step toward justice, our hearts remain with the victim’s family and loved ones as they cope with this unimaginable loss. They are in our thoughts during this difficult time.”
The investigation remains active. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Reading Police Department at 610-655-6116 or Crime Alert Berks County’s anonymous tip line at 1-877-373-9913. Crime Alert offers cash rewards for information that leads to an arrest.