Juniata man held for trial on three counts of murder

Axel Barreto, the Juniata man who opened fire in January on seven teenage boys who had packed into a Toyota Corolla and driven to his home looking to fight one of his three stepsons, was held for trial Wednesday on three counts of murder.

Municipal Judge James DeLeon made the ruling after a preliminary hearing marked by a larger-than-usual security contingent, including the presence of Philadelphia Sheriff Jewell Williams. Dozens of relatives and high-school classmates also attended.

Joshua Soto, 14; Javier Orlandi, 16; and Dante Lugo, 14, were killed in a barrage of bullets at 10:30 p.m. Jan. 10 behind the gunman's home on Luzerne Street near Castor Avenue. A fourth teen, the driver, survived a gunshot to the neck; three others were unharmed.

Defense attorney Jack McMahon said his client acted to protect his family against a violent gang.

Assistant District Attorney Jude Conroy said none of the victims was armed and each was shot from behind while the car was driving away.

"These kids were in full flight mode when this man began to fire," he said. "They went there for a one-on-one fistfight. Nobody had a weapon."

The seven teens had been feuding with Barreto's teenage stepson Benjamin "Benny" Torres for months in person and on Facebook.

The group of teens drove to Barreto's house that night so one of them could fight Torres, but instead encountered Barreto.

Two of Barreto's stepsons and one of the teens who survived the shooting attend Mariana Bracetti Academy Charter School. The day before the shooting, Mayor Nutter and other officials visited the school to speak out against retaliatory violence.