On the evening of May 30, 2023, a tragic shooting occurred in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, resulting in the deaths of 19-year-old Joshua Lugo-Perez and two young brothers, 8-year-old Jesus Perez-Salome and 9-year-old Sebastian Perez-Salome. The incident took place at a residence in the 400 block of North 5th Street, where all three victims resided. Lugo-Perez was reportedly the intended target, while the two young boys were unintended victims, playing with kittens in the backyard at the time of the shooting.
In the aftermath of the shooting, authorities arrested three individuals in connection with the crime. Alex Torres-Santos, 22, was apprehended on May 31, 2023. At the time of the shooting, Torres-Santos was on house arrest for unrelated charges and was wearing an ankle monitor. Ammunition and multiple firearms were found at his residence upon arrest.
A 16-year-old male, identified as James Fernandez-Reyes, was also arrested and charged as an adult. Fernandez-Reyes has been linked to previous criminal activities, including being a person of interest in the November 2022 fatal shooting of a 12-year-old in Rochester, New York.
The third suspect, 27-year-old Ivan Claudio-Rosero, was apprehended on June 6, 2023, in Philadelphia. He confessed to his involvement in the shootings, admitting to driving the group to and from the crime scene and firing multiple rounds during the incident. His girlfriend, 34-year-old Tiffany Koziara, was also arrested and charged with hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, as she had provided false information to investigators regarding Rosero's whereabouts.
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf announced intentions to seek the death penalty against Torres-Santos and Claudio-Rosero, citing the heinous nature of the crime, which resulted in the deaths of two innocent children and a young adult. As of September 2024, the trial for the accused has been delayed, with proceedings expected to commence in early 2025.
The community of Lebanon continues to mourn the loss of the three victims, with memorials and vigils held in their honor. The tragic event has also sparked discussions on gun violence and the safety of neighborhoods, prompting local authorities to implement measures aimed at preventing such incidents in the future.
