URGENT UPDATE: A Philadelphia man has just been convicted of a shocking double murder that occurred outside a Reading convenience store in February 2022. Following a tense three-day trial, a Berks County jury found Nyjee Jefferson, 30, guilty of both first- and third-degree murder.
The jury’s decision, announced on Thursday, is a critical moment in the case surrounding the tragic deaths of 18-year-old Jose Ventura-Jimenez and 17-year-old Alejandro Drullar. Jefferson is set to be sentenced in February 2024, as the community grapples with the aftermath of this violent incident.
The murders unfolded just after sunrise on February 20, 2022, when a confrontation erupted inside the convenience store located at Schuylkill Avenue and West Greenwich Street. The altercation escalated, spilling into the parking lot, where Jefferson opened fire, shooting Ventura-Jimenez a staggering seven times and Drullar once.
Police reports indicate that Jefferson sought treatment for a gunshot wound only two hours after the attack, as captured on security footage at a Philadelphia hospital. He was apprehended a few days later, marking a significant development in a series of violent incidents that plagued the city, during which seven people lost their lives in just five weeks.
This conviction serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing violence affecting communities across the nation. The emotional toll on families is profound, with the loss of two young lives resonating deeply within the Reading area. As the case moves to sentencing, attention will focus on the potential consequences for Jefferson and the broader implications for public safety in urban areas.
Officials urge the community to remain vigilant as the city continues to address rising violence. The next steps include the upcoming sentencing hearing, where Jefferson faces the possibility of significant prison time for his actions.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing situation.
