In the early hours of Sunday, August 2, 2026, the life of 32-year-old Luis D. Torres Jr. was tragically cut short in a fatal shooting in Reading, Pennsylvania. The incident occurred around 3:40 a.m. in the 1400 block of North 5th Street, where Torres was shot multiple times. Emergency medical services responded to the scene, but Torres was pronounced dead from his injuries. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a suspect: 43-year-old Federico Perez Polanco, also a resident of Reading. Witnesses at the scene reported that an altercation had taken place between Torres and Perez Polanco, which escalated to the fatal shooting. Following the incident, Perez Polanco fled the scene. In a brazen attempt to evade justice, he traveled to New Jersey and booked a flight to the Dominican Republic scheduled to depart that same evening.
However, a coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations, thwarted his escape. Perez Polanco was apprehended at an airport in New Jersey while he was waiting to board his flight. He was taken into custody and was awaiting extradition back to Pennsylvania to face charges of first-degree murder and other related offenses. The swift arrest was praised by local officials as a critical step towards bringing justice for Luis D. Torres Jr. and his family. The case highlights the rapid response of law enforcement in apprehending a suspect who was actively trying to flee the country after allegedly committing a violent crime. While the immediate aftermath of the shooting and the subsequent arrest of the suspect are well-documented, further details regarding the legal proceedings, including any trial, conviction, or sentencing of Federico Perez Polanco, are not available in the provided information.
