Fight prompted teen to shoot sisters, police say

A 14-year-old Reading boy accused of shooting two teen sisters, one fatally, in Oakbrook Homes told investigators that his girlfriend came to his home before the shooting, telling of a run-in she just had with the sisters in the neighborhood, investigators said in arrest papers.

The defendant, Abelle H. Ruiz, said he left his home in the 400 block of McClellan Street with his girlfriend and they encountered the sisters, ages 16 and 17, in the 1000 block of Scott Street near McClellan about 10:45 p.m. Friday, police in the probable cause affidavit available Monday.

A physical altercation ensued between his girlfriend and the two sisters. The girlfriend told investigators she had ongoing issues with the 16-year-old sister over an unrelated homicide investigation, police said.

The dispute intensified into a physical fight when she encountered them again on McClellan Street.

Investigators provided the following account:

After the fight, she and Ruiz walked away and went through a gate that leads to the rear yards of homes in the 400 block of McClellan.

Ruiz told investigators that he overheard the sisters discussing with someone on a cellphone plans to have other individuals shoot him and his girlfriend, Criminal Investigator Daniel Cedeno wrote in the affidavit.

Ruiz said that once in the yard he pulled out a 9mm pistol and fired shots toward the sisters.

The 16-year-old was struck in the chest and was unconscious when police and medics arrived. Her 17-year-old sister was struck in the left leg.

Both were transported by ambulance to Reading Hospital, where the 16-yearold was pronounced dead a short time later.

Ruiz’s girlfriend said she heard shots ring out next to her and saw Ruiz holding a gun. The pair ran west in the 1000 block of Scott Street. As they ran to an unspecified city address, she said Ruiz continually apologized to her for the shooting.

Several hours later, police received information that the shooting suspect and the gun could be found inside a city residence.

Officers responded to the residence and found Ruiz, the girlfriend and a 9mm pistol with a scratched-off serial number. Police did not disclose the address.

Police arrested Ruiz. The Berks County district attorney’s office approved charging Ruiz, despite being a week shy of his 15th birthday, as an adult with firstdegree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and felony firearms counts.

District Attorney John T. Adams said it’s the first time in his 14 years in office that the county has charged someone as young as 14 with homicide.

Adams reacted with disgust Saturday to the latest shooting involving teens or young adults in the city, drawing attention to the defendant’s age, that he somehow came in possession of a firearm and that he allegedly shot two people.

He promised a vigorous investigation to determine who provided the teen with a firearm.

Ruiz was under supervision of the county juvenile probation department for previous violent offenses, Police Chief Richard Tornielli said.

Adams said he arranged for the youth to be held, pending a hearing, in a juvenile facility equipped to detain murder defendants.

An autopsy for the 16-year-old victim is scheduled for Monday night, Acting Coroner Jonn M. Hollenbach said.

Hollenbach said that as a practice he defers to police to release the identity of homicide victims. Tornielli declined to release the name.

The condition of the homicide victim’s sister could not be obtained from the hospital, but police indicated her injury was not considered life-threatening.