Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

READING, PA. -- A 24-year-old Providence man is charged with first-degree murder and is serving as a witness against a Pennsylvania man accused of being the trigger man in the same murder, according to the Reading Eagle.

Javier Antonetty-Rodriguez, 28, of Reading, is charged with first-degree murder and related offenses in the April 1, 2008, slaying of Jose. A. Rivera, 40, of Reading, at a city bar. Antonetty-Rodriguez allegedly shot and killed Rivera over a drug debt.

Eduard Baez-Rodriguez, 24, of Providence, and Jose Correa-Sanchez, 23, of Reading, were each charged with first-degree murder and related offenses in the slaying of Rivera.

Investigators say Baez-Rodriguez was the getaway driver. Correa-Sanchez went into the bar to see if Rivera was inside and came out to notify Antonetty-Rodriguez where Rivera was sitting, according to investigators.

The two men gave similar accounts during a preliminary hearing Thursday. They testified that as the three of them drove to the bar, called Topher's Cafe, Antonetty-Rodriguez said Rivera owed him money for a cocaine sale and that he was going to kill him.

The men testified that Antonetty-Sanchez took a handgun from the vehicle and put on gloves and a mask to cover the lower portion of his face. After returning to the vehicle, Antonetty-Rodriguez said he had shot at Rivera, Correa-Sanchez said.

 Tags  murder Pennsylvania Providence

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