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Wilkes-Barre resident pleads guilty to failing to comply with sex offender registration requirements

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; An accused killer&#8217;s trial date has been pushed back.</p><p>Rafael Mora-Polanco, 27, is charged with criminal homicide in the June 11, 2015, fatal shooting of fellow Hazleton resident Jose Marrero. Mora-Polanco was scheduled to face trial on the charges Feb. 29.</p><p>Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough approved a continuance in the proceedings during a brief pre-trial conference Friday in Luzerne County Court. The new start date is scheduled for May 2, Vough said.</p><p>Mora-Polanco did not address the court.</p><p>Police said Mora-Polanco gunned down Marrero in an attack that ended with Mora-Polanco pursuing Marrero into the streets and firing multiple fatal gunshots at him.</p><p>According to a police affidavit:</p><p>Officers arriving in the area of West 4th Street discovered Marrero, 35, in the road bleeding from the head and face. Marrero, whose last known address was 404 S. Poplar St., Hazleton, had been shot six times with a .380-caliber handgun, police later said.</p><p>A witness not identified in the affidavit told police Mora-Polanco chased Marrero into the street and fired at least three shots in rapid succession. Video surveillance later corroborated the witnesses account of the fatal shooting.</p><p>An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Mary Pascucci determined Marrero died from multiple gunshot wounds. His death was ruled a homicide by the Luzerne County Coroner&#8217;s Office.</p><p>Mora-Polanco remains jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Rafael-Mora-Polanco-6-14-15.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mora-Polanco </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/web1_Rafael-Mora-Polanco-6-14-15.jpg</photo0><caption0>Mora-Polanco </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Trial date pushed back for alleged Hazleton killer Rafael Mora-Polanco