A Reading man accused of fatally shooting two people at an early morning garage party in Reading in September is in custody.
Raul Perez-Diaz, 31, turned himself in to authorities Tuesday afternoon, officials said. Following arraignment before District Judge Kyley L. Scott, he was sent to Berks County Jail without bail to await a hearing.
An arrest warrant was issued by Scott on Oct. 3 for Perez-Diaz of the 900 block of North 10th Street.
Perez-Diaz is believed to be the gunman who opened fire during a garage birthday party in the 800 block of Nicolls Street on Sept. 27, according to investigators. Victor Urena-Yami, 25, and Victor Jimenez, 21, died of their injuries.
According to court documents:
Police were called to the scene just before 6 a.m. for reports of gunfire.
When officers arrived, they found two men face down near the entrance to a garage, which is at the rear of a home in the 800 block of North Eighth Street. Both had suffered gunshot injuries and were taken to Reading Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
Through video recordings and interviews with witnesses, investigators determined Perez-Diaz arrived at the garage at 5:52 a.m. with two other men, pulling up in a silver sedan.
A group of people were inside, listening to music as they celebrated a birthday.
Men from inside the garage spoke to Perez-Diaz and his passengers as they sat in their car outside the garage. It was unclear what was discussed, but it appeared to have been a dispute.
Perez-Diaz got out of his car, entered the garage and, a short time later, began firing a handgun. He ran out of the garage and, after taking cover for a moment behind his vehicle, took off running.
A few moments later, he stole a car at gunpoint in the area of North Ninth and Marion streets.
Perez-Diaz suffered a gunshot wound to his back at the garage. After driving home in the stolen car, he called a taxi to take him to Reading Hospital. He was interviewed there by police.
Perez-Diaz admitted to being involved in the shooting but claimed he fired only after one of the victims shot at him first.
Witnesses rebutted that claim, saying Perez-Diaz, who appeared to be drunk at the time, was the aggressor and fired first.
Perez-Diaz faces two counts each of first- and third-degree murder and aggravated assault as well as single counts of possessing an instrument of crime, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.