Third suspect still at large after triple homicide in Lebanon
A third suspect in a triple homicide that claimed the lives of two children in Lebanon is still at large.
"We are actively working on identifying the vehicle that was used as well as that suspect at this time. I believe there (are) plans to release a photograph of that vehicle and ask the community for help in identification at some point today," Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said at a Thursday morning news conference.
Graf also said she is considering pursuing this as a death penalty case.
"There are two children dead as a result of this incident. They were outside playing with their kittens, nothing to do with this. And their mother lost two of her children that evening. Our office is continuing to aid in the investigation, we are also beginning the legal consultation of, 'Is this capable of being a death penalty case?'" she said.
Boy died on back porch, chief says
Lebanon City Police Chief Bret Fisher spoke at the news conference and revealed more details about the deadly shooting.
"Jesus Perez, the 8-year-old, was not transported to a medical facility. He died on the back porch of his residence," Fisher said.
Fisher said Sebastian Perez, 9, and Josh Lugo Perez, 19, were both found inside the residence. They were each taken to hospitals, where they died from their injuries.
Fisher said it appeared that Lugo had fled to the inside of the home.
“At this time, we still believe that Lugo was the target of the gunfire. This was the result of a past argument," the chief said.
Police previously said that 27 shell casings from two different weapons were found at the scene.
All three victims lived in the same home, according to investigators. The children were students in the Lebanon School District.
A fourth person who was shot, Luis Cancel, is a next-door neighbor. He was wounded but is expected to survive.
Arrests
Lebanon police arrested two people on Wednesday in connection with the triple homicide.
Alex Torres-Santos, 22, and James Fernandez-Reyes, 16, were both arrested. They are being held without bail at the Lebanon County Correctional Facility.
Police said Torres-Santos attempted to flee the residence, where he was ultimately arrested without incident, and that the juvenile hid in a nearby home but was arrested a short time later.
Ammunition and multiple firearms were found at the home, including an AR-15 that was consistent with the shell cases found at the scene of the shooting, investigators said.
A News 8 crew was in the 400 block of North Ninth Street, where a SWAT team responded. Our crew saw officers take Fernandez-Reyes into custody. You can watch the video below.
Suspect was out on bail
At the time of the shooting, Torres-Santos was out on bail for two separate incidents involving dangerous firearms, according to police.
He was under house arrest and was required to wear a house-arrest bracelet after posting bail.
Video below: Full news conference from Thursday morning.
Heartbroken
On Wednesday, Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello held a news conference about the shootings, which happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday in the area of North Fifth Street.
"These shootings are unacceptable," Mayor Sherry Capello said in a Wednesday morning news conference. "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."
Video below: Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello holds news conference Wednesday morning.