Family demands justice after middle schooler gunned down on Halloween in Bensalem
Peter Romano was a student at Snyder Middle School. His father wants him to be remembered for his upbeat personality.
BENSALEM, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Family and friends gathered Thursday night to remember a middle school student who was killed when gunfire rang out during a large fight on Halloween night in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
On Friday, police announced that a person of interest, identified as 19-year-old Sean Hughes, of Lower Makefield Twp., was found dead in Ohio.
The deadly shooting happened around 7:35 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Bristol Pike and Woodbine Avenue.
Police say 14-year-old Pietro "Peter" Romano suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest when a gunman opened fire on a crowd of people.
A 17-year-old and 19-year-old were also hit by gunfire but are expected to survive.
SEE ALSO: Snyder Middle School student ID'd as 14-year-old killed in Bensalem shooting; 2 other teens injured
There were lots of hugs and tears exchanged between family and friends as they huddled in the cold while remembering Peter's life during the vigil.
Several bullet holes scattered along the wall of a salon in the nearby shopping center serve as a grim reminder of the deadly shooting.
"To the person who took my little brother's life, you know who you are and I know you're paying attention. So do what's right and give my brother justice," Maria Romano, the victim's older sister, said during the Thursday night vigil.
According to police, the gunman opened fire from a parked vehicle.
The shooter was seen fleeing northbound on Bristol Pike after firing about a dozen shots.
"What happened to my younger brother was not only heartbreaking but it had such an impact on everybody's life. This is something no one will ever forget or get over," Maria said.
Maria said she is hoping the community learns from this.
"This isn't limited to my younger brother being the victim and whoever did this being the suspect. This will be with us forever and impact on everybody... Do what's right and give my angel his justice," she said.
Romano was a student at Snyder Middle School. His father wants him to be remembered for his upbeat personality.
"He was such a funny kid, was just a kid growing up just doing things every other kid in the community did, and I just love everybody that showed up tonight," said Peter Romano, the victim's father. "I just hope this never happens again and they catch this guy who did it."
The vehicle used in the shooting was identified as a gray 2014 Hyundai Elantra with the Pennsylvania license plate JHF-2866, according to police, and was determined that it had been stolen out of Bristol Township.
The vehicle description was entered into the National Criminal Intelligence Center and on Thursday police in Marysville, Ohio, spotted the vehicle using a license plate reader and attempted to pull it over. The driver, identified as Hughes, did not stop and a police chase ensued.
When police found Hughes, they said he had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Bensalem police said it's still unclear if the gunman was involved in the large fight and are still investigating other possible suspects involved the shooting, including others who were in the vehicle on Tuesday.
"We will continue to pursue all leads in our attempt to identify any other potential suspects engaged in the planning or solicitation of this crime, including occupants of the vehicle used in the murder," Bensalem police said. "We understand that people in our community are affected emotionally by this tragedy, and some to the extent that they may wish to take the law into their own hands. This must not happen."
Anyone with information is asked to call Bensalem police.
A GoFundMe has been set up by Peter's family.
