On the evening of July 10, 2024, 19-year-old Rafael Tinoco-Villagomez was fatally shot in Reading’s City Park, near the Peace Dove statue, a spot he used for soccer and basketball. He was found with a gunshot wound to his back, taken to Reading Hospital, and died of his injuries. The shooting occurred about 9:30 p.m.

Investigators say Rafael had taken part in a social media-posted scavenger hunt for hidden marijuana. Witnesses reported that after he found the hidden substance, two individuals chased him and demanded it; during the pursuit he was shot. Authorities arrested 18-year-old Luis Rios and 16-year-old Jasir Escoto; both face second- and third-degree murder, robbery and related charges. Rios is held without bail and Escoto’s bail was set at $1 million.

Rafael was a 2023 Reading High School graduate who planned to study electrical engineering and loved sports. His family started a GoFundMe for funeral costs and the community has held vigils. Anyone with information about the events that night or the social media gathering is asked to come forward.