Cops seek stepfather in deadly shooting of teens

The shooting Tuesday night that left two teenagers dead and two wounded stemmed from an argument that began in school and ended with a deadly ambush in Juniata Park, police said today.

Cops said they're looking for the 30-year-old stepfather of three of the teenage brothers who were involved in the fight. Philadelphia Capt. James Clark described Axel Barreto as a "person of interest," saying police believe he fired 10 to 12 shots into a car packed with seven teenagers.

Two groups of teenagers got into an argument at school, then taunted each other on Facebook, Clark said, until the teenagers eventually planned to have a physical fight Tuesday night. Around 10:30 p.m., a Toyota packed with the four victims and three other teenagers pulled up in front of the house where Barreto and his three stepsons live, on the 1500 block of East Luzerne Street.

As the car pulled up, a man believed to be Barreto ran up to the passenger side of the car and opened fire into the vehicle, Clark said.

A 14-year-old, Joshua Soto, and 16-year-old Javier Colon were later pronounced dead at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. Another 14-year-old is in extremely critical condition and is not expected to survive, Clark said. The 16-year-old driver was shot in the neck and remains in critical condition.

Anyone with information is asked to call the homicide unit at 215-686-3334.