Ex-Berks teen arraigned in playground killing following extradition from Florida

The last of the three suspects charged by Reading police in the March 14 fatal shooting of a teen and wounding of three others on a playground in the city’s 18th Ward has been arraigned following extradition from Florida.

Henry Madera Jr., 17, formerly of West Wyomissing, was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $1 million bail to await a hearing following arraignment Wednesday night before District Judge David E. Glass in Reading Central Court.

Madera faces third-degree murder, aggravated assault and conspiracy charges in the killing of Amier T. Bibbs, 18, a Gov. Mifflin High School student, in Brookline Park, which is on Meade Street near Kenhorst Boulevard.

In announcing charges against the three defendants during a Dec. 13 press conference – nine months after the shooting – District Attorney John T. Adams said Madera’s family relocated to Florida sometime after the shooting. Madera was arrested by Florida authorities on a warrant from Reading police after the charges were filed Dec. 12, he said.

Members of the sheriff’s office transported Madera from custody in Florida. Further details were unavailable.

Bibbs and three other teens were shot after dozens of youths in two distinct groups gathered on the baseball diamond to watch a prearranged fight between two boys, neither of whom were involved in or victims of the shooting, investigators said based on numerous interviews and their review on footage from cellphones and private security cameras.

Multiple people from the group that included Madera and the two other suspects — Anthony M. Boria, 18, of Reading and Julian A. Evans, 18, of Kenhorst — fired wildly into the group that included the four victims, witnesses said. It was later determined a total of 43 shots were fired into the crowd, investigators said.

Bibbs died at the scene.

A 16-year-old girl suffered multiple gunshot wounds to her torso and left thigh. Two other victims, males aged 18 and 17, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and buttocks, respectively.

The investigation took months because investigators had to piece together evidence that included witness testimony, video footage and ballistics, Adams and Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli said.

Investigators relied on Adams’ investigating grand jury to compel testimony from the three eventual suspects. The grand jury viewed a cellphone video of the fight recorded by the female shooting victim along with other video before or after the incident that contradicted the suspects’ testimony, according to the panel’s presentment that was included in the criminal complaints.