Suspect arrested at Reading playground following rooming house shooting

A resident of a south Reading rooming house suffered a gunshot wound to his lower leg after confronting a man Tuesday afternoon for selling drugs in the hallway, police said.

The shooter, whom witnesses described as a Latino man who went by the name “Benji,” was located a short time later in the Reading Iron Playground, police said.

The suspect was identified as Benjamin Rivera, 52, who lives on Neversink Street near the south Reading playground.

Rivera was charged with aggravated assault, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, carrying a firearm while prohibited, and possessing fentanyl, synthetic marijuana and crack cocaine.

He was placed in Berks County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment Tuesday night before District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose in Reading Central Court.

According to court records:

Reading firefighters found the victim of a shooting when they responded about noon to the rooming house in the 400 block of South Fifth Street for a fire alarm.

The victim was treated by medics and transported to Reading Hospital. From his hospital bed, he told police that he had gotten into an altercation in the hallway of the second floor, where his room is located.

He said he told the man later identified as Rivera not to sell drugs on the premises.

An argument ensued. The victim walked down the hall toward his room, followed by Rivera.

When he reached his room, the victim entered and slammed the door shut. Rivera kicked in the door, but the victim shoved him back through the doorway into the hall and closed the door.

The victim sat on his bed, which is next to the door. Seconds later, he was struck in the lower left leg by a round that was fired through the door.

A suspect description was broadcast to officers in the vicinity.

An investigator saw a man matching that description in the playground. Before patrol officers arrived, the investigator saw the man place something in a trash can.

After Rivera was detained, officers searched the trash can and found a double-barreled handgun. There was a live round in one barrel. The other barrel was empty.

The victim identified Rivera as the suspect.

Rivera had multiple pink packets of fentanyl as well as a plastic bag containing K2 — synthetic marijuana — and a small plastic capsule of crack cocaine.

Source: Berkshire mont