A man accused of killing three teens after firing into their car is held on murder charges after a preliminary hearing on Wednesday.
Prosecutors say 30-year old Axel Barreto shot the teens outside his Juniata Park home in January.
Barreto is charged with murder, aggravated assault and related offenses for allegedly killing 16-year old Javier Orlandi,14-year old Joshua Soto and 14-year old Donti Lugo. Another victim was hospitalized after the shooting.
Baretto claims the teens showed up to fight his stepsons after a Facebook argument escalated.
It was an emotional day for the victim’s families, who faced Barreto for the very first time.
Maria Lugo told NBC 10 “he needs to rot in hell, that’s it. He didn’t just take my son he took everybody else’s son” she said.
Katherine Magobet, the aunt of one of the victims, was also in court. “He just sat there with a normal face, like he didn’t, he didn’t cry” Magobet said. “It looked like he wasn’t sorry for what he had done.”
Baretto’s lawyer, Jack McMahon, said his client was just trying to protect his stepson from a gang who was out to get him.
