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Jesus Perez-Salome, 8, Sebastian Perez- Salome, 9, and Joshua Lugo-Perez, 19, all of Lebanon have been identified as the victims of the deadly shooting near a home and a playground in the 400 block of North 5th Street around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30, 2023.
UPDATE: The third suspected killer and his girlfriend have been arrested. You can read more about their arrests here.
Jesus died on the back porch of his home; Sebastian was in his home when police arrived and was taken to a hospital in Dauphin County where he died; and Joshua appeared to have run into the home to flee the gunfire which is where he was found before he was taken to a Lebanon medical facility where he died, the police explained at a press conference on Thursday, June 1.
Both children were elementary students in the Lebanon School District, and the school was notified of their deaths last night and is providing counseling.
A 33-year-old was also shot, and he is recovering at the hospital after undergoing surgery, according to Mayor Sherry Capello— has been identified as Luis Cancel by Lebanon police.
Joshua is believed to have been the target of the shooting based on "a past argument between him and the suspects," the police said at the Thursday press conference.
The suspects were identified the day after the shooting. Alex Torres Santos was under house arrest at the time of the shooting and was taken into custody by SWAT. A 16-year-old who attempted to flee with him, James Fernandez-Reyes, was also taken into custody, but police believe at least one more man was involved.
Both Torres Santos and Fernandez-Reyes have been held in the Lebanon County Prison after being denied bail on charges including Criminal Homicide, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Homicide, and Attempted Criminal Homicide, as well as other related charges, Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said at the press conference.
Fernandez-Reyes has been charged as an adult.
Santos has a criminal history and was out on bail for "two separate criminal incidents – both of which involve dangerous behavior with firearms," the DA said in a release late on Wednesday night. Both of those incidents "occurred within a two-week span which culminated in his arrest and criminal charges."
He was put on house arrest after his bail was reduced from $100,000 to $50,000 by Judge Figueroa, as explained in the DA's release.
"Santos wore his bracelet to the homicide; the location monitor and minimal bail imposed by the Judge thus served as no deterrent to a violent criminal willing to take a life," Graf stated in the release.
During the press conference, she explained that her office is investigating the possibility of the death penalty.
The Lebanon City Police Department, the Lebanon County District Attorney's Office and Detective Bureau, the Pennsylvania State Police, and other Lebanon County Police Departments are assisting with the investigation.
“These shootings are unacceptable. As a mom, I cannot overstate how heartbroken I am for the families. I cannot imagine what these families are going through right now. As the mayor, I am heartbroken for the community,” Capello added.
Officials ask anyone with additional information on this investigation to contact the LCPD at 717-272-6611 or submit a tip online.
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