A Reading man has been convicted of murder for shooting a man who was killed during a burglary of his Wyomissing home in 2019.
Jarren Walker, 36, of the 100 block of North Ninth Street was found guilty by a jury Tuesday of second-degree murder and related charges following a six-day trial in front of Berks County Judge Benjamin Nevius.
Walker was convicted of fatally shooting 37-year-old Na’il Salamov after breaking into Salamov’s home in the first block of Birchwood Road about 10 p.m. on May 6, 2019.
According to police:
Walker and another person went to Salamov’s house to rob him, expecting Salamov not to be home. Salamov was home and confronted the burglars. It is unclear why the home was targeted.
Walker’s accomplice, whom police have yet to identify, pepper-sprayed Salamov, and Salamov grabbed Walker.
As the two men struggled, Walker shot Salamov, who was able to call 911 to report that he had been shot by an intruder and provide dispatchers with a description of his assailant.
Salamov died early the next morning in Reading Hospital.
The initial investigation into the killing wasn’t able to produce suspects. It wasn’t until two years later, in August 2021, that the case was reignited when investigators interviewed an acquaintance of Walker’s who described a conversation with Walker about the murder.
Investigators were then able to use location data from Walker’s phone to place him at Salamov’s home at the time of the killing. Walker was charged with the crime in September 2021.
District Attorney John Adams said Wednesday that the investigation into the killing remains open, with investigators hoping to identify Walker’s accomplice. Walker has not cooperated with investigators in that regard, Adams said.
Despite that loose end, Adams said he was pleased with Tuesday’s verdict.
“This is just another example that we are utilizing all of our resources to prosecute those who are involved in committing violent offense in our community,” he said.
Anyone with information about Walker’s accomplice is asked to submit an anonymous tip to Crime Alert Berks County. Tips may be submitted by calling 877-373-9913, downloading the ALERTBERKS app on their mobile device, or via text message using their mobile phone and typing ALERTBERKS along with your tip to 847411.
Source: Berkshire mont
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