Police, D.A., Investigating Homicide In Berks Co.

another example of what happens when the influences from the city of Reading move into the small towns and suburbs

they bring their drugs, weapons, culture of violence, gang mentality and incorporate them into the community

wasn't this spurbeck creep from RHS?

hope they all get what they deserve...none of it nice

first known homicide in Hamburg in 30 years leave it to the Reading crowd...going to happen in every municipality and town as home invasions are now becoming the norm if drug involvement not stopped

To be honest this is not suprising (not the murder but the people involved). I went to school with both josh rahn and chad miller. I was a friend of chad in middle school and early high school, he was a big druggie. josh on the other hand was a huge nutcase. so honestly its not suprising to see these two in this kind of situation.

Outside of Reading, Hamburg is home to some of the biggest druggies and drug dealers in the county! The Hamburg police department needs to wake the heck up and start STEPPING UP!! However this would involve replacing some of those idiots with real, trained police officers! Everyone around knows who the druggies are and which houses are the drug houses. Are the police really that stupid or do they just not care? It's time to START caring now!

Enough is enough wrote:

Outside of Reading, Hamburg is home to some of the biggest druggies and drug dealers in the county! The Hamburg police department needs to wake the heck up and start STEPPING UP!! However this would involve replacing some of those idiots with real, trained police officers! Everyone around knows who the druggies are and which houses are the drug houses. Are the police really that stupid or do they just not care? It's time to START caring now!

I agree. There are more instances of drugs being dealt in Hamburg and the cops seem to either be afraid, turn a blind eye to it or are on the dole. They need to spend less time at the local sandwich shops and convenience stores and do something for the money they're paid. The mayor controls the force, where is he in all this? I would expect this will not be the last drug-related homicide we hear about from Hamburg.

Unless and until the people in each town or borough step up and demand drug free areas, this will continue.

If you know of a drug house, report it to crime alert or the Berks County Sheriffs Dept or the State Police.

One phone call from one concerned citizen could have prevented this homicide and improved the street.

Now the citizens have to pay for the courts, more police work, secretaries, judges, etc.

Practice prevention in Hamburg and get rid of the druggies

if only for your children and grandchildren or to reduce your taxes.

Be the adults that care about the community!

One anonymous phone call...2 minutes of your time...

Were all of these guys from Reading?

I think that people should think before they do things. If people wanna do drugs i think they should pay for what they are doing and go to jail or get a fine for it. I know a couple people that should have gotten caught, but the police in hamburg must not care about all the druggies and care more about other stuff more. The Hamburg police need to buckle down and STOP this. There are to many poeple getting away with selling drugs and not getting caught. STEP UP POLICE! start going after them and make them pay for what they did before something like this happens again and its more major then what just happend.

think before you do wrote:

I think that people should think before they do things. If people wanna do drugs i think they should pay for what they are doing and go to jail or get a fine for it. I know a couple people that should have gotten caught, but the police in hamburg must not care about all the druggies and care more about other stuff more. The Hamburg police need to buckle down and STOP this. There are to many poeple getting away with selling drugs and not getting caught. STEP UP POLICE! start going after them and make them pay for what they did before something like this happens again and its more major then what just happend.

It is the responsibility of you, the citizen, to stop covering up for the irresponsible in every community.

You had better Step Up to make the community safer and better.

You have the duty to keep the neighborhoods and blocks safe from criminals and keep the towns drug free.

One anonymous phone call, one tip to Crime Alert, one call would have prevented this murder...

No one in Hamburg had a phone?

I knew Josh since Middle School and all the way up to High School and afterwards and he always was a nice guy. He showed that you shouldn't be afraid to be yourself around people. Sadly he changed a lot after High School and I hated how he did but he always used to hug me and pick me up and spin me around as he did with many of my other friends and everything and this is just not like him. I feel horrible to know this happened to such a nice guy but sadly he did deserve what he did, I just wished he realized before this all happened that it was a bad idea...I'll forever love you Josh<3 Rest In Peace...

I hope Chad miller, Brandon Leonti and Warren Sperbeck all rot in the pitts of hell. Unless you walk in someones shoes, you can not judge without being judged yourself in this life and in the next! Joshy was loved, and will be extremely missed. His life was so short. The odds in life were always against poor Joshy. I feel sorry for the son and gf he left behind. It was too soon. Joshy was just a victim of very bad circumstances all his life from birth to passing.
This small town will not seek truth, it will be covered over in lies like everything else in this area.

wakeup wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree. There are more instances of drugs being dealt in Hamburg and the cops seem to either be afraid, turn a blind eye to it or are on the dole. They need to spend less time at the local sandwich shops and convenience stores and do something for the money they're paid. The mayor controls the force, where is he in all this? I would expect this will not be the last drug-related homicide we hear about from Hamburg.

I clicked on the reply when you deemed them a police department - then I read on realizing you just about hit this one on the nail. The Hamburg police department is a complete joke - A COMPLETE JOKE!!!

To the person that mentioned RHS as being a issue - not all people who went RHS are trash, just wanted to clear the air on that. I probabaly have more going for me then you do, and oh, by the way, I went to Reading!!!!

So, does anyone else find it interesting that Mr. Leoneti will not be charged. He killed Rahn, he lived in the house with the two and a half POUNDS of pot, and he came to his friend's aide when he was being attacked. I smell an informant. maybe witness to something bigger??

Isn't it time for authorities in Berks to get ahead of this drug problem in Berks as opposed to waiting ofr such heinous creatures to downgrade each community every day?

Isn't it time for all good citizens to report such drug activity before a murder occurs?

Why are citizens now being extorted into participating in drug activity? Because they are so powerful and protected by authorities?

Many of us have never seen or used drugs and we would really like to keep it like that..so stop protecting the criminals and arrest them....nomatter how much money the have!

Many

Your Responsibility wrote:

<quoted text>
It is the responsibility of you, the citizen, to stop covering up for the irresponsible in every community.
You had better Step Up to make the community safer and better.
You have the duty to keep the neighborhoods and blocks safe from criminals and keep the towns drug free.
One anonymous phone call, one tip to Crime Alert, one call would have prevented this murder...
No one in Hamburg had a phone?

The 'police' are aware of another situation for months and months. Their response? We're keeping an eye on it. In the meantime, trespassing, use, dealing, illegal weapons possession, etc. continues. The ineffectiveness, fear or don't care attitude of the Hamburg Police will surely lead to vigilanteism. Now that's taking back your streets.

I sense a Darwin Award

Perhaps this fatality can open the eyes of young adults that choose involvement in illegal activities!!........CHOOSE A JOB INSTEAD OF DRUGS!! My condolences to the parents.......your son is at peace with himself. RIP

Shame on YOU Hamburg wrote:

I hope Chad miller, Brandon Leonti and Warren Sperbeck all rot in the pitts of hell. Unless you walk in someones shoes, you can not judge without being judged yourself in this life and in the next! Joshy was loved, and will be extremely missed. His life was so short. The odds in life were always against poor Joshy. I feel sorry for the son and gf he left behind. It was too soon. Joshy was just a victim of very bad circumstances all his life from birth to passing.
This small town will not seek truth, it will be covered over in lies like everything else in this area.

The upbringing has a great impact! Some can deal and move on and some do not. We need to enforce better life skills on young people--perhaps it will help. 21 and gone-awful!!
So much to do but dope took it down along with bad choices! God Bless him! DRUGS KILL!!

concerned citizen wrote:

So, does anyone else find it interesting that Mr. Leoneti will not be charged. He killed Rahn, he lived in the house with the two and a half POUNDS of pot, and he came to his friend's aide when he was being attacked. I smell an informant. maybe witness to something bigger??

I agree, chief Painter made it sound like we have nothing to worry about, what an idiot.
He knows where the drug houses are in Hamburg. He didn't address the drug issue at all

For the persons questions- Did all these kids come from Reading? No- I'm not sure how long Warren has lived in Hamburg but as far as I know the other 3 were pretty much all raised in Hamburg.

Concerned Citizen- I'm not sure why Leonti is not being charged for at least drug possession. However, he shouldn't be charged with murder!! This guy was hiding in his house for 24 hours and started attacking with a knife. It absolutly was self defense. Drugs aside, imagine someone in your basement for 24 hours and then coming out attacking. What would you do? Fight back and take them down, even if it means killing them. It's you or them! If they wouldn't have fought back the headlines would be reading "TWO Hamburg Men killed in home invasion" that being Leonti and Sperbeck.

Shame on You- Do you know something about the crime that the papers are not reporting? What's being told is this was PLANNED. He broke into someones home. He waited. He had weapons. He then attacked. Unfortunatly he lost, he lost his life. But he put himself into that situation. God bless his soul, but he made his bed now he must lie in it.

I also agree with the comment about the police needing to start doing their jobs! What a joke they are. If you see them out and about chances are you will find them at Heckys or with their cruiser parked and chit chatting with resident friends. PEOPLE DO USE THEIR PHONES TO REPORT DRUGGIES!! I have personally, and NOTHING WAS DONE!! They must be scared or just dont care!

Enough is enough wrote:

For the persons questions- Did all these kids come from Reading? No- I'm not sure how long Warren has lived in Hamburg but as far as I know the other 3 were pretty much all raised in Hamburg.
Concerned Citizen- I'm not sure why Leonti is not being charged for at least drug possession. However, he shouldn't be charged with murder!! This guy was hiding in his house for 24 hours and started attacking with a knife. It absolutly was self defense. Drugs aside, imagine someone in your basement for 24 hours and then coming out attacking. What would you do? Fight back and take them down, even if it means killing them. It's you or them! If they wouldn't have fought back the headlines would be reading "TWO Hamburg Men killed in home invasion" that being Leonti and Sperbeck.
Shame on You- Do you know something about the crime that the papers are not reporting? What's being told is this was PLANNED. He broke into someones home. He waited. He had weapons. He then attacked. Unfortunatly he lost, he lost his life. But he put himself into that situation. God bless his soul, but he made his bed now he must lie in it.
I also agree with the comment about the police needing to start doing their jobs! What a joke they are. If you see them out and about chances are you will find them at Heckys or with their cruiser parked and chit chatting with resident friends. PEOPLE DO USE THEIR PHONES TO REPORT DRUGGIES!! I have personally, and NOTHING WAS DONE!! They must be scared or just dont care!

Call the state police in Reading or the DEA in Allentown or Phila

Never deal with the locals

Shame on YOU Hamburg wrote:

I hope Chad miller, Brandon Leonti and Warren Sperbeck all rot in the pitts of hell. Unless you walk in someones shoes, you can not judge without being judged yourself in this life and in the next! Joshy was loved, and will be extremely missed. His life was so short. The odds in life were always against poor Joshy. I feel sorry for the son and gf he left behind. It was too soon. Joshy was just a victim of very bad circumstances all his life from birth to passing.
This small town will not seek truth, it will be covered over in lies like everything else in this area.

"This small town will not seek truth, it will be covered over in lies like everything else in this area."

Welcome to Hamburg/Berks County PA.