On September 20, 2023, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Reading Police Department officers responded to a reported vehicle collision in the 700 block of Schuylkill Avenue. Upon arrival, they discovered a car with significant front-end damage that had collided with a parked vehicle. The sole occupant, identified as 27-year-old Jorge Pizarro Mercedes, was found injured and transported to Reading Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
An autopsy conducted on September 21, 2023, revealed that Mercedes had sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest, leading authorities to classify the incident as a homicide. The investigation into his death is ongoing, and as of the latest available information, no arrests have been made, nor have any suspects been publicly identified. The Reading Police Department continues to seek information from the public to aid in solving this case.
Community members with any information related to the homicide are urged to contact the Reading Police Department at (610)-655-6116 or Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913. The authorities emphasize the importance of community assistance in bringing those responsible to justice and ensuring public safety.
