On June 18, 2023, at approximately 1:15 a.m., a double shooting occurred in the 300 block of Penn Street in Reading, Pennsylvania, resulting in the deaths of 32-year-old Jorge Mercado-Castro and 29-year-old Jamar Oliver. Both men were traveling eastward in a vehicle when they were shot. Oliver was found in the 400 block of Penn Street with a head injury and a gunshot wound to his right arm, while Mercado-Castro was located at Fifth and Penn streets, having suffered a gunshot wound to the head.
Mercado-Castro succumbed to his injuries on June 19, 2023, and Oliver passed away later that week.
The investigation led to the arrest of two suspects: 24-year-old Kevin Irizzarry-DeMarco of Kenhorst and 31-year-old John Roman of Reading. A witness, who had transported the suspects to and from the scene, identified them to the police. Surveillance footage corroborated the witness's account, showing the vehicle used in the crime. Both Irizzarry-DeMarco and Roman were taken into custody on June 19, 2023, and charged with homicide. They remain in custody pending further legal proceedings.
This tragic incident is part of a concerning pattern of gun violence in Reading, Pennsylvania. In 2024 alone, several fatal shootings have been reported, including those of Ismael Ortiz-Rodriguez on September 4, Darius Francis on August 13, and Rafael Tinoco Villagomez on July 10. The community continues to grapple with the impact of these losses, seeking solutions to curb the violence and ensure the safety of its residents.
