Gun used in Hazleton homicide was collateral for loans
Jun. 11—WILKES-BARRE — The firearm used in the December 2020 fatal shooting of Ashokkumar Patel was never recovered, and prosecutors conveyed to a Luzerne County jury Wednesday how they believe homicide suspect Jafet De Jesus Rodriguez managed to obtain the weapon.
Angel Luis Rivera, deemed a material witness, told the jury he obtained a Glock firearm as collateral for a loan he gave to another man. Rivera then told the jury he was in need of cash and gave the Glock to Rodriguez, 44, as collateral in October 2020, about two months before Patel was killed during a robbery at Craig's Food Mart on West Broad Street, Hazleton, on Dec. 12, 2020.
Rivera called himself a friend of Rodriguez, whom he also worked for at Rodriguez's car wash and auto-detailing garage on East Diamond Avenue in Hazleton.
Hesitant to testify at times when questioned by Luzerne County specially assigned Assistant District Attorney Drew McLaughlin, Rivera explained he loaned another man money and took the Glock firearm as collateral. Sometime in October 2020, Rivera said he needed money to pay rent and used the Glock as collateral for cash given to him by Rodriguez.
Rivera further said he gave the gun case to Rodriguez's then-girlfriend.
On cross-examination, Rodriguez's co-defense lawyer, Joseph F. Sklarosky Sr., reviewed a transcript of Rivera's interview with Hazleton City police detectives after Patel was fatally shot, indicating many inconsistencies between Rivera's direct testimony and his interview with detectives.
During the interview, Rivera talked about a Beretta handgun being used as collateral for money loans but Sklarosky Sr. pointed out from the transcript that a detective corrected Rivera the firearm was a Glock.
At one point, Sklarosky Sr., who is co-defending Rodriguez with Attorney Michael A. Sklarosky, asked Rivera:
"Didn't you rob Craig's market and kill Mr. Patel?" Sklarosky Sr. asked, resulting in an immediate objection by McLaughlin, which was sustained by Judge Michael T. Vough.
Sklarosky Sr. further got Rivera to admit he fled the Hazleton area after Patel was killed only to be found in Philadelphia, resulting in a material witness declaration by Vough in August 2024.
McLaughlin and Assistant District Attorney Gerry Scott introduced a transcript from a jailhouse phone call between Rodriguez and a woman where Rodriguez discussed a stove.
Detectives in court records and previous testimony say they found a red sweatshirt, gloves and a face mask in a garbage bag hidden inside a stove at Rodriguez's car wash and auto-detailing garage.
Surveillance video of the fatal shooting, which was shown to the jury Tuesday, showed the gunman wore a red sweatshirt and concealed his face and head with a face mask and hood of the sweatshirt. McLaughlin told the jury during his opening statement that Patel's blood was found on the sweatshirt.
To counter the blood on the sweatshirt, Michael Sklarosky during his opening statement told the jury Rodriguez's DNA was not found on the sweatshirt, gloves and face mask found in the stove.
Rodriguez is facing trial on an open count of criminal homicide, robbery and theft.
Testimony continues Wednesday afternoon.
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