Bucks Co. Teen Found Dead In Ohio, Was Triple Shooting Suspect

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —The person of interest sought in the triple shooting that killed a 14-year-old Bensalem Township student has been found dead in Ohio of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

Sean Hughes, 19, of Morrisville, had been identified as the person of interest in the Halloween triple shooting by the Bensalem Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office based on their investigative leads and tips from the public.

Peter Romano, 14, a Snyder Middle School student, was one of three teenagers who were shot around Bristol Pike at 7:35 p.m. Tuesday, police said. Romano was shot in the chest and pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. A vigil was held for him Thursday night.

Bensalem Township Police said the shots came from a parked vehicle at 2600 Bristol Pike in the area of Bristol Pike and Woodbine Avenue where a large group of juveniles were fighting.

The vehicle used in the shooting / murder was identified as a grey 2014 Hyundai Elantra.

The suspect's vehicle was captured by surveillance cameras at the scene of the murder and by Bensalem Township intersection cameras as it fled northbound on Bristol Pk. after the shooting.

The investigation by Bensalem Detectives led to the identification of the registration plate, which was PA JHF-2866. It was also determined that the vehicle was previously stolen out of Bristol Township.

The vehicle and registration plate were entered into the National Criminal Intelligence Center as a felony vehicle, police said.

On Thursday, the Marysville Police Department in Ohio, observed the 2014 Hyundai Elantra and attempted to conduct a traffic stop based on a License Plate Reader hit.

The driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. The driver of the vehicle eventually exited the vehicle and ran on foot.

When police located the driver, he was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The driver was identified as Hughes, the person of interest in the murder.

Police said they will continue to pursue all leads to identify any other potential suspects engaged in the planning or solicitation of this crime, including occupants of the vehicle used in the murder
the murder.

"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," police said.

If anyone has a tip, a lead, or information regarding this incident, please report it to the Bensalem Township Police Department.

"We will continue to investigate this homicide so that we can hold all people responsible for it accountable to the fullest extent of the law," police said.

No further information will be released at this time. The Bensalem Police Department will release more information as it becomes available.

Two other Bensalem students —a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old — were also treated for gunshot wounds. The 19-year-old male was released from the hospital while the 17-year-old underwent surgery to repair injuries to both legs, police said.

The Bensalem Police Department would like to thank the Marysville Police Department for
their efforts and continued assistance in this investigation.