ELGIN, Texas (Court TV) – A Texas man is facing a felony charge after two high school cheerleaders were shot in an H-E-B parking lot after one mistakenly got into the wrong vehicle.
This undated photo provided by the Elgin Police Department shows shooting suspect Pedro Tello Rodriguez, Jr. (Elgin PD)
Pedro Tello Rodriguez, Jr., 25, was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with deadly conduct, according to the Elgin Police Department.
The shooting occurred just after midnight Tuesday, when Heather Roth mistakenly entered a vehicle Rodriguez was sitting in thinking it was her own, reported KTRK. Roth then got back into her friend’s car.
As Rodriguez allegedly approached the vehicle Roth was in, she rolled down the window to apologize, according to KTRK. Rodriguez then allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Roth and fellow cheerleader Payton Washington.
Washington was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Another cheerleader was treated and released at the scene, according to Fox News.
This undated photo provided by Baylor Athletics shows Payton Washington. (Baylor Athletics via CNN)
While commenting on Washington’s recovery, Woodlands Elite Cheer owner Lynne Shearer told KTBC, “(Washington) was literally born with one lung, so she, from the very beginning as a baby, wasn’t even expected to survive, let alone excel in athletics. So, she’s surpassed a lot of things already.”
The cheer team has setup a GoFundMe for Washington’s medical expenses.
Elgin police said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.
