The Berks County District Attorney’s Office has released new details after a Reading Police Officer shot a man Wednesday afternoon at a convenience store in Southwest Reading.
According to the District Attorney, on Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at approximately 4:45pm, members of the Reading Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Unit, observed Emanuel Padilla Tirado driving a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu which was parked at the Wawa convenience store, located at 413 Lancaster Avenue, Reading, PA.
Reading Police Investigators had been searching for Padilla Tirado and were aware that there was an active felony warrant for his arrest. This arrest warrant was for Aggravated Assault and related offenses, arising from a shooting incident that had occurred on September 9, 2022, at South 14th Street and Fairview Avenue, Reading, PA.
As officers approached Padilla Tirado’s vehicle, he attempted to flee in his vehicle. According to County Detectives, Padilla Tirado drove the vehicle directly at a uniformed patrol officer, striking him with the right front of the vehicle. The officer shot into the vehicle, striking Padilla Tirado multiple times.
County Detectives say a loaded firearm was recovered from the waistband of Padilla Tirado. It was later determined that the gun was previously reported stolen from Sinking Spring, PA.
Padilla Tirado was transported to Reading Hospital where he was treated for multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen. He is currently in stable condition. The front seat passenger inside the vehicle at the time of this incident was injured by broken glass. She was treated and released from Reading Hospital.
No police officers were injured during this incident.
The Berks County Detectives will be filing criminal charges against the vehicle’s operator, Emanuel Padilla Tirado, charging him with Aggravated Assault and related criminal offenses.
Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to contact Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171.
Anyone with information pertaining to this incident may submit an anonymous tip to Crime Alert Berks County by either calling (877) 373-9913, downloading the ALERTBERKS app on your mobile device, or via text message using your mobile phone and typing ALERTBERKS along with your tip to 847411.
The Berks County Detective’s Office assumes the lead investigative role in Officer Involved Shooting pursuant to District Attorney John T. Adams protocol to have an independent investigative agency investigate police officer shootings.
