Person shot in leg during robbery in Reading, 3 charged | Reading Area

READING, Pa. – Three men are facing charges, after a person was shot in the leg during a robbery in Reading.

Andrew Colon faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, robbery, firearms not to be carried without a license, and terroristic threats, according to a criminal complaint. 

Authorities are accusing Jose Morales-Ortiz of robbery and terroristic threats, among other charges, according to court documents. Jason Albino faces several charges, including robbery and disorderly conduct, court documents say.

Police were sent to the 300 block of North 6th Street in Reading on Aug. 1 for the report of a shooting, the affidavit of probable cause says.

One of the victims told police two men, later identified as Colon and Morales-Ortiz, approached from behind and said “give me it,” according to court documents. The person realized Colon was pointing a handgun at him, while demanding that he give Colon the chain he was wearing, the criminal complaint says.

The victim began running south at the 300 block of North 6th Street to get away from Colon, who then started chasing him, court documents say. The person told police that while he was running he heard gunshots behind him; he collapsed, realizing he had been shot in the leg.

Colon pointed the handgun at the victim, then stole his chain, according to the criminal complaint.

Officers later learned two other victims were involved in the incident.

The second victim told police he and the two other victims left a bar at 2 a.m. Aug. 1 when Morales-Ortiz pulled a gun out, pressed it against his mid-back area, then demanded he give Morales-Ortiz his watch, city police said.

The second victim was hit in the face, then went away and hid in an alley, court documents say.

The third victim told police he saw Morales-Ortiz walk up to the second victim and press a gun to his back, city police said in court documents. The third victim went to turn around when Jason Albino punched him, authorities said.

The criminal complaint said officers found a spent shell casing in the area where Colon chased the first victim.

Colon, Morales-Ortiz, and Albino are in Berks County Prison, and face preliminary hearings on Aug. 22.

Bail for Colon and Morales-Ortiz was set at $300,000, while Albino’s bail is set at $250,000.