Two cheerleaders from an elite competitive team in Oak Ridge, Texas, were shot after one mistakenly tried to enter the wrong vehicle in front of an H-E-B store.
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The young women were driving to the Woodlands Elite Cheer Company and used the store parking lot as a carpool meeting spot to meet up three times a week for practice. According to ABC 13, Heather Roth exited her friend’s car and opened the door to a vehicle she assumed was hers. After noticing a man sitting in the passenger seat, she panicked and returned to her friend’s car.
Moments later, the athletes noticed the man approaching their vehicle, and Roth rolled down the window to apologize, explaining that she assumed his car was hers. As she explained, the man reportedly threw up his hands, pulled out a gun, and started shooting.
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An H-E-B manager said they witnessed the suspect shooting at the vehicle multiple times before fleeing the area. Roth said the bullet grazed her, and medics released her, but her teammate, Payton Washington, was shot in the leg and back. She was transported via helicopter to a nearby hospital. During an Instagram live Tuesday evening, Roth said that Washington suffered multiple organ damage and her spleen was removed. She will undergo more surgeries during the week.
The Woodlands Elite Cheer Company asked supporters to pray for the four girls as Washington recovers at the hospital.
“4 of our girls were involved in a horrific incident on their way home after practice last night. We are asking for your prayers for Payton, Keyona, Heather & Genesis. Also Big prayers for Payton as she recovers please. Please keep these girls and our WE cheer family in your thoughts and prayers. WE appreciate our cheer community. If you want to donate to help Payton’s medical expenses, use this link for the GoFund Me, and it’s in our bio”
The team was scheduled to compete at Cheerleading Worlds in Orlando this weekend. Elite Cheer Company co-owner Lynne Shearer said it was the only title Washington didn’t win, and the team will be there to compete in her honor.
“It’s the only title [she] hasn’t won in All-Star Cheer. She’s literally won everything there is to win in this sport except for a world title, and this was her last chance to do that,” Shearer said. “Payton is the ultimate competitor. She would not want her team not to go and not be at this championship and not compete. So we will be there, and we will compete.”
Police identified the suspect as 25-year-old Pedro Tello Rodriguez Junior. on Tuesday, and he is charged with deadly conduct and may face more charges.
The news comes as two other people were shot for entering the wrong driveway or knocking on the door.