Friends and family gathered in Juniata Park on Friday to remember the lives of three teens murdered in a shooting last Tuesday.
The three teens died while another was injured after a man opened fire on a car full of kids who came over to fistfight his three stepsons, according to police.
Police say seven teens in all got into a car and drove over to a house on the 1500 block of E Luzerne Street in the Juniata section of Philadelphia. There, Alex Barreto, 30, was waiting with a semi-automatic in the driveway, cops said.
Barreto allegedly fired about a dozen shots into the car full of kids, according to authorities.
Four of the seven teens were hit, according to police. Two of the teens, Javier Orlandi and Joshua Soto, both 14, were pronounced dead at St. Christopher’s Hospital just before 11 p.m. Tuesday. Dante Lugo, also 14, was critically injured and died in the hospital Wednesday night, police said.
The 16-year-old driver was in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. His neck was grazed by a bullet, according to authorities.
The three other teens who had been in the car were talking with police, helping them figure out the chain of events leading up to the deadly shooting. Police say that someone in the car received a call asking them to meet in the driveway.
Authorities say the shooting was a result of an argument between teens from two different neighborhoods that began on Facebook. It's unknown where they went to school.
Authorities apprehended Barreto Wednesday night after a tip caller led them to a Bensalem, Pa. motel. Barreto was with a woman at the time he was picked up -- a woman he has been having an affair with and he didn't want his wife to know about, according to a source. A source also told NBC Philadelphia that Barreto confessed to opening fire on the car and killing the three teens.
On Thursday he was formally charged with their murders.
A candlelight vigil in memory of the three teens began Friday at 5 p.m. The vigil also included a song from local hip hop group Trap Unit, dedicated to the families of the teens.
"We went straight to the studio and we created the song," said Dice, a member of the group. "The family members reached out and they appreciated it."
"We've all been to prison, we dealt with that," said SK, another member of the group. "We don't do prison anymore. We don't do the senseless stuff anymore. The stuff that we talk about should teach a lesson so that you don't do it. Kids, calm down."
Anyone with information regarding this case should contact Philadelphia Police at 215.686.3334 or call 911.
Victim JOSHUA SOTO:
Victim JAVIER ORLANDI:
Friends of the victims put together this collage of photos Wednesday:
