On a Thursday night in June 2015, the life of 35-year-old Jorge Marrero of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, was cut tragically short in what police would later describe as an execution. The events unfolded around 10:30 p.m. on June 11th, beginning with an altercation on Alter Street. Gunfire erupted, and Marrero was struck. He attempted to flee his attacker, running around the corner and up West Fourth Street near Emerald Court, but his assailant pursued him.
On the sidewalk, the chase ended with the shooter firing a fatal shot to Marrero's head.
The investigation into the brutal slaying quickly pointed to 26-year-old Raphael Mora-Polanco as the primary suspect. According to police, the initial confrontation between the two men escalated, leading to the foot chase that ended Marrero's life. Surveillance footage from Alter Street captured the initial gunshot, and a trail of blood on the sidewalk told the grim story of Marrero's final moments. Witnesses reported hearing a pop, a scream, and then a series of more pops, like firecrackers. An eyewitness later stated they saw two bullet holes in Marrero's head and one in his back.
Within 72 hours of the killing, investigators located and arrested Mora-Polanco near West 2nd and Alter Streets, just a couple of blocks from the scene of the crime. His identification as the shooter was reportedly confirmed by a witness and corroborated by surveillance video. The swift arrest brought a small measure of relief to a community shaken by the violence.
The family of Jorge Marrero, while grieving his violent death, expressed a desire for justice, hoping to see Mora-Polanco spend the rest of his life behind bars. Neighbors remembered Marrero as a good and humble person who had faced some struggles in his life. While the motive for the shooting was not immediately released by law enforcement, the execution-style nature of the crime suggested a level of personal animosity. The district attorney would later weigh whether to seek the death penalty in the case against Mora-Polanco.
