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Shooting in Lebanon kills 3, including 2 children, wounds 4th person

  • The Associated Press
Lebanon City Police Chief Bret Fisher, left, and Lebanon City Mayor Sherry Capello release details of a triple homicide that took place Tuesday night where an 8-year-old, 9-year-old and 19-year-old were killed.

 Matthew Toth / Lebanon Daily News

Lebanon City Police Chief Bret Fisher, left, and Lebanon City Mayor Sherry Capello release details of a triple homicide that took place Tuesday night where an 8-year-old, 9-year-old and 19-year-old were killed.

A shooting outside an eastern Pennsylvania home killed three people, two of them children aged 8 and 9, and wounded another person, authorities said.

Chief Bret Fisher of the Lebanon police department said officers responded to a city residence shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday after a report of shots fired.

Mayor Sherry Capello and Fisher said Wednesday that a 19-year-old man was killed along with two boys, aged 8 and 9. A 33-year-old man was said to be recovering after surgery. The children are students in the Lebanon School District, Capello said. Not all of the victims are related, officials said.

“It appears, at the early stages of this investigation, that one of the victims was targeted; the other three victims were uninvolved,” Fisher said. Other people besides the victims were also present in the home, she said.

Police identified those killed as: Joshua Lugo-Perez, 19; Jesus Perez-Salome, 8; Sebastian Perez-Salome,9. Luis Cancel, 33, was being treated at a Dauphin County hospital.  All the victims were from Lebanon.

SWAT team members executed a search at a home and took someone into custody who is of interest in the case but was arrested on an unrelated matter, Fisher said. Authorities are working with the county district attorney’s office, which declined immediate comment, and state police.

Fisher declined to say how many people were being sought in the case. He declined comment on what may have led up to the shooting and said he couldn’t say how many shots were fired.

“First let me start with the obvious: These shootings are unacceptable,” Capello said. “As a mom, I cannot overstate how heartbroken I am for these families. … As the mayor, I am heartbroken for our community.”

Lebanon School District Superintendent Dr. Arthur Abrom released the following statement to district families

Dear Lebanon School District Families:
I regret to inform you that on May 30, 2023 a tragic event occurred involving the death of two of our students. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the student’s families during
this sad occasion.
A young person’s death is always a heartbreaking and troubling event and the loss of a young life can have a profound effect on the student’s friends and classmates. It is
important that we, as family members and educators, recognize this loss and offer assistance.
Our district staff has put a plan into place to help students deal with their grief and to support students as we progress through the rest of this year. Our Student Assistance Team, trained to respond in the event of a crisis, is available to handle the situation.
School counselors are available to talk with students about response to grief. We also have School Counselors on site to give students the opportunity to be seen individually or in a small group setting.
We encourage you to be especially empathetic and prepared to offer support to your child during this time. It is important for you to talk with your children about their feelings and reactions in an age appropriate manner. Over the next few days, encourage your child to express his/her feelings and listen attentively. You may see behavior changes, loss of
concentration, physical complaints, or regression. If you have any concerns regarding your child’s reaction to this loss, contact your child’s teacher, the school counselor, school nurse, Principal, or your family physician.
Thank you for your concern and support during this difficult time.

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