On Tuesday, Heather Roth Cheerleader and her friend from the Woodlands Elite Cheer Company were shot by a man in Texas after one of the girls almost accidentally entered his car.
The incident is a tragic reminder of the dangers of mistaken identity and the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings.
It also highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States, with the ease of access to firearms leading to such incidents. The incident shocked the local community, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families.
Also Read: Raine Burdette Scandal – Viral Video Trending Online
Heather Roth Cheerleader – 21-Year-Old Shot In Texas
In Texas, two cheerleaders from the Woodlands Elite team were shot and injured by a man in a parking lot after one of them opened the door to a car she thought was hers but found a man inside.
The injured cheerleader was identified as Payton Washington, a role model in the cheerleading industry who has won multiple titles.
21-year-old Heather Roth, another cheerleader from the same team, confirmed the incident in an Instagram Live post, stating that she accidentally opened the door of the wrong car.
The Elgin Police Department did not respond to the N.B.C. News request to confirm the incident. The incident occurred after midnight on Tuesday when Heather Roth and her teammate Payton Washington left the gym with two other friends.
They used the parking lot of a grocery store in Elgin as a carpool meeting point to commute 360 miles round-trip from Round Rock to Oak Ridge North thrice weekly to practice with the team.
Heather left her friend’s car and mistakenly opened the door to a similar-looking car, finding a man in the passenger seat.
Roth returned to her friend’s car, and the man followed them and shot both girls when they rolled down the window to explain the mistake.
Heather suffered a graze wound, while Washington was shot in the back and leg, requiring hospitalization and the removal of her spleen.
Shearer said Woodlands Elite had known the cheerleaders for years, and the team had become like a family to them. She added that they would support Washington and the other affected team members every step of the way.
The incident has prompted an outpouring of support on social media, with many offering their prayers and condolences.
Was the shooter arrested?
The shooter, Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr., was charged with deadly conduct, a felony for up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000.
Woodlands Elite started a GoFundMe Campaign to help cover Washington’s medical expenses, which had raised over $66,000 by Wednesday.
Washington has only one lung and was scheduled to participate in the Cheerleading Worlds event in Florida and has signed up to join the acrobatic and tumbling team at Baylor University.
The shootings of Washington and Roth and two other incidents in New York and Missouri have drawn international attention to U.S. gun culture.
Where did the incident Take place?
The incident occurred in Elgin, about 25 miles northeast of Austin, outside an H-E-B supermarket around 12:15 am local time.
According to the Elgin Police Department’s news release, officers responded to reports of shots fired in the parking lot of H-E-B. An altercation occurred between the victims and the suspect, who fired multiple shots into the vehicle.
The incident resulted in two of the car’s occupants being struck by gunfire, with one victim sustaining severe injuries and being transported by helicopter to a hospital.
As per Police, the victim was listed in critical condition, and the other victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The gym owner where the victims trained confirmed the incident and identified the victims as two cheerleaders who trained at her gym.
The owner also stated that one of the cheerleaders accidentally got into the wrong car, and the suspect mistook her for someone else.
According to Lynn Shearer, owner of the gym where they trained, the man with the gun got out and fired multiple shots into their car when they tried to speed away.
You May Also Like: Is Camila Cabello Muslim? Religion And Family
