A man identified as Alex Torres Santos, 22, and a 16-year-old boy, whose identity has not been released, have been charged with three counts of criminal manslaughter, according to statements from the Los Angeles County district attorney. Lebanon, Pier Hess Graf.
Graf noted that the suspects could receive the death penalty, but that the decision had not yet been made.
The event occurred in a home in eastern Pennsylvania.
The victims: two children (identified as Jesús Pérez Salomé, 8 years old, and Sebastián Pérez Salomé, 9 years old) and a 19-year-old boy, identified as Joshua Lugo Pérez, who apparently was the main target, according to authorities. This was reported by the Associated Press news agency.
The two suspects were also charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy and firearms offenses for their alleged connection to a shooting in Lebanon.
Authorities, according to the Associated Press, are still searching for a third suspect, who will face similar charges.
Santos was under house arrest on various criminal charges unrelated to the shooting, and had an electronic ankle monitor on at the time of the shootings.
According to county authorities, the violence was generated by a “previous discussion”, although no further details were provided in this regard.
Both the children and the 19-year-old were in the backyard of a house, where they lived, when they started shooting.
Jesús Pérez Salomé, the 8-year-old boy, was declared deceased at the crime scene. His brother, Sebastián Pérez Salomé, and Joshua Lugo Pérez, died shortly after being taken to a hospital.
Sherry Capello, the mayor of Lebanon, condemned the event.
“These types of shootings are unacceptable. As a mother, I cannot express how hurt I am for the families. I can’t imagine what these families are going through right now,” Capello said, according to CBS News.
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