Two suspects are now in custody following the tragic shooting in Lebanon that left three individuals dead on Tuesday night. The victims included two boys, aged 8 and 9, and a 19-year-old man named Joshua Lugo-Perez. A fourth victim, 33-year-old Luis Cancel, is recuperating from surgery after also being shot.
The two young victims were outside with their pet kitten when the fatal incident happened, according to Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf. Lugo-Perez is believed to have been targeted due to a past disagreement, as stated by Lebanon’s police chief, Bret Fisher. The two boys and Cancel were said not to be connected with this dispute.
On Wednesday, an adult male and a juvenile were apprehended in relation to the crime. Charges against them include three counts of criminal homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide, and one count of aggravated assault. Graf also announced that a third suspect remains at large. The district attorney’s office is considering whether the death penalty is appropriate, a decision Graf stated is neither swift nor taken lightly.
Authorities have retrieved two firearms allegedly used in the crime. The suspects attempted to escape as police were searching a building, but one was swiftly detained, and the other captured after a three-hour manhunt.
This incident is a rarity for Lebanon, a city that typically experiences a low frequency of gun violence. Mayor Sherry Capello expressed her deep sorrow for the affected families at a recent news conference, labeling such acts of violence as “unacceptable.”
For more detailed information, visit the original article on The New York Times.