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Pa. man kills 3 teens, injures 1 over stepsons' feud

Axel Barreto CBS Philly

(CBS/AP) PHILADELPHIA - Police say a Philadelphia man killed three teenagers in an ambush initiated by a fight involving his stepsons.

CBS Philly 30-year-old Axel Barreto was arrested at a suburban motel Wednesday night, around the time one of his alleged victims was taken off life support, investigators say. 

Police say Barreto fired a dozen or more shots into a 1997 Toyota Corolla loaded with seven teenagers late Tuesday after the boys arrived for a confrontation with his stepsons. Authorities say the planned fight stemmed from an argument at school that spilled on to Facebook.

"The '97 Toyota that the victims were in was struck at least six times by gunfire," Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

The victims are identified as Joshua Soto and Dante Lugo, both 14, and 16-year-old Javier Orlandi. Soto and Orlandi died late Tuesday.

"Two of the 14-year-old victims were pronounced dead at the hospital just before 11 p.m," Small said.

The third victim was taken off life support late Wednesday evening and pronounced dead.

A 16-year-old driver was wounded in the neck, but despite being shot, was able to drive the car to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. He is now in stable condition.

Small said at least 10 shots were fired at the teens from a semi-automatic gun.

The shooting remains under investigation.

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