Police in Reading say the man sought in a deadly Sunday morning shooting was captured late that night at a New Jersey airport as he sought to leave the country. The arrest, officials say, followed coordinated work by local and federal partners to intercept the suspect before he boarded an international flight.
How authorities say the case unfolded
Reading Police and the Berks County Coroner's Office reported that officers were called to the 1400 block of North 5th Street around 3:40 a.m. Sunday after a person was found suffering multiple gunshot wounds. The victim — a 32-year-old man whose name has not been released pending family notification — was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators identified a suspect and, according to police, learned he had fled to New Jersey and purchased travel to the Dominican Republic. Federal authorities arrested the suspect as he waited to board his outbound flight.
| Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| ~3:40 a.m., Sunday | Shooting reported on North 5th Street, Reading |
| Later Sunday | Suspect flees to New Jersey and books international flight |
| Sunday night | Arrest made at New Jersey airport |
| Following arrest | Extradition to Pennsylvania pending |
Who was arrested and what charges are expected
Authorities identified the man in custody as Federico Perez Polanco, 43, of Reading. Reading Police said he is awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania and will face charges that include homicide and aggravated assault.
The arrest involved multiple agencies: the U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Transportation Security Administration and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, working alongside Reading Police.
Local reaction and next steps
Reading Mayor Eddie Moran issued a statement thanking law enforcement partners for their work and expressing sympathy for the victim’s family. In full, the mayor said:
"I want to thank the members of the Reading Police Department and all of our law enforcement partners for their quick and coordinated efforts to locate and apprehend the suspect. While today's arrest is an important step toward justice, our hearts remain with the victim's family and loved ones as they cope with this unimaginable loss. They are in our thoughts during this difficult time."
Reading Police continue to investigate the shooting. Officials asked anyone with information to call the department at 610-655-6116.
Why the arrest matters to the region
The transfer of an active homicide investigation across state lines and into federal aviation checkpoints underscores how quickly local cases can become multijurisdictional. Airports and ports are frequent routes for people attempting to leave the country after alleged crimes, and the involvement of federal partners often accelerates the ability to intercept suspects.
- Immediate law enforcement coordination: local, state and federal agencies worked together.
- Travel as an element in criminal cases: authorities monitored and intercepted a booked international flight.
- Community impact: a fatal shooting in a neighborhood on North 5th Street has left questions for residents and a grieving family.
For the public, the arrest removes an immediate flight risk but does not conclude the investigation. Extradition procedures will determine how quickly the suspect is returned to Berks County to face formal charges and arraignment in Pennsylvania courts.
As the case moves forward, investigators are expected to disclose more details about the shooting, including motive and potential witnesses, once immediate notifications and procedural steps are complete. Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Reading Police at the provided number.
For residents of Reading, the arrest provides a measure of closure that the suspect will not reach his destination abroad. For those living near North 5th Street, however, the loss and the unanswered questions from a pre-dawn shooting will take longer to heal.
