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"The actions of a Reading police officer on September 14, 2022, was a reasonable act of self-defense and defense of another," District Attorney John T. Adams announced on Wednesday, Oct. 5.
Emanuel Padilla-Tirado, 31, had a warrant out for his arrest in connection with a Sept. 9 shooting in the city, when undercover and uniformed officers spotted his 2012 Chevrolet Malibu parked at the Wawa store on the 400 block of Lancaster Avenue.
As officers approached Padilla-Tirado's sedan, he tried to flee, and in the process, struck an officer with the front of his car, according to newly released surveillance and body-camera footage of the incident.
In response, the officer fired three shots into the vehicle, which was occupied by both Padilla-Tirado and a front-seat passenger.
"The suspect continued to accelerate the vehicle, striking a concrete pillar in the front of the store bringing it to a stop," the DA said.
They were both transported by EMS to the Tower Health-Reading Hospital, authorities said.
Padilla-Tirado was treated for gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen. The front seat passenger had minor injuries from broken glass. She was treated and released.
As he was being arrested, a loaded firearm was recovered from Padilla Tirado's waistband, authorities said. They later learned that the gun was previously reported stolen from Sinking Spring.
Detectives say they also found cocaine and heroin in his car, along with a second fully loaded firearm. They believe he was intending to sell those drugs.
He is awaiting his preliminary hearing on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, receiving stolen property, recklessly endangering another person, firearms not to be carried without a license and possession with the intent to deliver.
Meanwhile, he remains held in the Berks County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
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