BERWICK, Pa. (AP) — One person was killed and another 17 people injured when a vehicle struck a crowd gathered at a Pennsylvania bar for a fundraiser for victims of a house fire that killed 10 earlier this month, authorities said. The suspect then killed a woman in a separate incident, police said.
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Updated 9:50 AM PT – Monday, August 15, 2022
A man was charged with murder after driving through a crowd that gathered for a fundraising event in Pennsylvania. He killed one person and injured dozens more. Additionally, he killed one other after the crash.
Adrian Oswaldo Sura Reyes was charged and arraigned on two counts of criminal homicide on Sunday. Police say the crash took place outside of the Intoxicology Department bar in Berwick on Saturday. The 24-year-old is also the suspect in a separate incident that occurred later that day. That crime resulted in a person dead in a neighborhood nearby. State trooper Anthony Petroski called Reyes out.
“The person who did these heinous crimes tonight is in custody right now,” he announced.
BERWICK UPDATE: 24-year-old Adrian Oswaldo Sura Reyes is now behind bars after police say he is the man responsible for driving through the crowd at the Nescopeck fundraiser leaving one person dead and at least 17 others injured…(1/2) pic.twitter.com/OVr3K101Q2
— Nicole Rogers (@nrogers_news) August 14, 2022
Community members were gathering for a benefit to raise money for the victims and their families of a house fire that killed 10 people earlier this month. It was during that time that the suspect plowed his vehicle through the crowd outside. One person died as a result and 17-others were injured.
“Shortly after, Pennsylvania State Police Schick Shinny received a call of a male who was physically assaulting a female in Nescopeck borough Luzerne County,” said Petroski. “Upon their arrival they discovered a male who was in custody, placed in custody by municipal police department along with a female who was deceased.
Police said the woman was struck by a vehicle and was assaulted with a hammer. She was later identified as 56-year-old Rosa Reyes. Reports said she is the suspect’s mother.
Adrian Sura Reyes hit 56 year old Rosa Reyes with a car and then assaulted her with a hammer, according to the coroner’s report. This was after he already plowed his car into a crowd at the benefit for 10 fire victims. 1 person died in that crash, 17 others were hurt. https://t.co/eKJx7AdESd
— Elizabeth Worthington (@ElizWorth16) August 14, 2022
The suspect was denied bail and is currently being held in the Columbia County correctional facility. His next hearing is scheduled for August 29.
Meanwhile, as the community is trying to heal from the tragedies that resulted from the deadly house fire, the recent incident has left members riddled with more confusion and anger.