A Reading man has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a coworker along River Road in May, following an investigation that included surveillance footage and DNA evidence recovered from a bicycle found near the crime scene.
Berks County District Attorney John Adams announced during a press conference on Monday, October 26 that Oliver Johan Paniagua-Pena, 39, of Reading, had been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, aggravated assault, and possessing instruments of crime in the death of 56-year-old Leonardo Mercado-Gomez.
The homicide occurred on May 9, 2026, at approximately 2:45 p.m. in the 200 block of River Road in Reading, near the Schuylkill River Trail.
Mercado-Gomez was discovered with multiple stab wounds by a passerby while walking home from his job at Sun Rich Foods, located at 425 Gateway Drive in Reading. He was transported to Reading Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:04 p.m.
An autopsy conducted by Dr. Neil Hoffman on May 11 determined that Mercado-Gomez suffered multiple stab wounds, including injuries to his chest and neck. His death was ruled a homicide.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Reading Police Criminal Investigator Daniel Cedeno, investigators recovered several items from the scene, including a black sneaker, lunch box, and cellphone belonging to Mercado-Gomez. A short distance away, officers discovered a black bicycle with red wheels concealed in bushes.
Surveillance footage collected from nearby cameras showed Mercado-Gomez walking along River Road shortly before the attack.
At approximately 2:38 p.m., a camera near the intersection of West Buttonwood Street and River Road captured Mercado-Gomez crossing the intersection. Around the same time, an individual dressed entirely in black clothing and wearing a balaclava-style mask was observed riding a black bicycle nearby.
Additional footage recorded at approximately 2:39 p.m. showed Mercado-Gomez walking along the 200 block of River Road toward a bend in the roadway, while the bicyclist traveled rapidly in the same direction.
Investigators noted that the bicycle had distinctive features, including red tires and an empty rear cargo rack, consistent with the bicycle recovered near the homicide scene.
The footage showed the bicyclist following Mercado-Gomez closely before both disappeared from the camera’s view.
Court documents also revealed that Mercado-Gomez was speaking with a family member in the Dominican Republic by telephone shortly before the attack.
Investigators determined that the call began at approximately 2:27 p.m. and lasted about 14 minutes, ending around 2:41 p.m.
The family member told police they heard yelling and a commotion during the conversation. According to the affidavit, the witness described hearing Mercado-Gomez say something to the effect of, “I didn’t do anything to you. Oh my God.”
The family member subsequently contacted other relatives to alert them about the incident.
A significant development in the investigation came through DNA evidence collected from the bicycle recovered near the scene.
According to the affidavit, investigators received a report from the Pennsylvania State Police Laboratory on September 21 indicating that a search of the Combined DNA Index System, known as CODIS, had identified Paniagua-Pena as a possible investigative lead.
The laboratory report stated that Paniagua-Pena could not be excluded based on DNA profiles obtained from samples collected from the bicycle’s seat and handlebars.
Adams said the DNA results helped investigators identify Paniagua-Pena as a suspect, and additional confirmatory DNA testing is expected as the investigation continues.
Following the DNA findings, investigators contacted Sun Rich Foods and learned that Paniagua-Pena had been employed there since December 2025.
According to court documents, both Paniagua-Pena and Mercado-Gomez worked at the facility on the day of the homicide, with their workstations located only a few feet apart.
Time clock records showed that Paniagua-Pena left work approximately 15 minutes before Mercado-Gomez.
A fellow employee also told investigators that Paniagua-Pena was known to commute to work on a beachcomber-style bicycle, which he stored inside the facility during his shifts. That description was consistent with the bicycle captured on surveillance footage and recovered near the crime scene.
Despite their connection through employment, Adams said investigators have not identified any previous disagreements between the two men.
“There was somewhat of a connection between the two, but to date, nothing has indicated that they had any disagreements between each other,” Adams said.
The district attorney described Mercado-Gomez as “a very innocent person who was probably in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Adams also expressed concern about the location of the homicide, noting that River Road is near a popular area used by walkers, hikers, and bicyclists along the Schuylkill River.
He characterized the killing as an “unprovoked, violent attack” and credited Reading Police investigators for their work in identifying and arresting a suspect.
The criminal complaint against Paniagua-Pena was filed October 22. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, including efforts to obtain additional DNA evidence and determine what led to the fatal attack.
