Two brothers were killed and three others injured when a co-worker opened fire at their Pennsylvania workplace following an argument, authorities said.
Suspect Wilbert Rosado Ruiz, 61, was arrested on multiple charges in connection with the shooting on Wednesday, May 22, including first-degree murder, aggravated assault and endangering another person, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollstamer said at a press conference.
It is unclear whether he has pleaded guilty, and online court records do not list the name of an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
The shooting happened at about 8:30 a.m. that day at a Delaware County linen mill, when Rosado-Ruiz, a longtime employee of the company, was seen arguing with a female employee. He then went outside to make a phone call, returned with a gun and began shooting and killing people, Stollsteimer said.
“This was a cold-blooded shooting,” Stollsteimer said. “This was a shooting that he [allegedly] He walked around the factory and started firing at people,” Stollsteimer said. Investigators obtained video footage that showed Rosado-Ruiz walking around the factory in a “planned manner.”
Two employees were killed in the shooting. Stollsteimer identified the victims as brothers Leovanny Peña Peña, 29, and Guiguenson Peña Peña, 26, from the Dominican Republic.
Kyle Mazza/SOPA Images/Sipa USA via The Associated Press
“On an average day, they go to work to provide for their families and they don't come home,” Stollsteimer told reporters.
Stollsteimer added that three people were wounded in the shooting, including a female employee who had been arguing with Rosado-Ruiz. Stollsteimer said the woman was able to leave the store, but Rosado-Ruiz followed her outside and fired several more shots. But Stollsteimer said the suspect's gun either ran out of bullets or jammed, and the woman was not shot again.
Rosado-Ruiz then allegedly fled the scene but was later arrested nearby. Stollsteimer said investigators charged him with firearms violations because Rosado-Ruiz legally purchased the gun used in the shooting in 2018 but did not have a carry or possess license.
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Stollsteimer added that numerous concerns had been raised about Rosado-Ruiz before the shooting and that there had been a meeting the day before about his behavior at work. He declined to elaborate further on a possible motive.
“This is a horrific event,” Stollsteimer said. “It should never have happened.”
Chester Mayor Stephen Rootes offered his condolences following the deadly shooting.
“Today was a tough day in Chester,” Roots said in a statement posted to Facebook on May 22. “In what is all too common in America, employees of a local business were the victims of a workplace shooting leaving at least two dead and three injured. We thank the emergency responders who quickly apprehended the suspect and transported the injured to the hospital.”
The statement continued: “My heart breaks for the victims, their families, survivors, co-workers, neighbors and residents across our city. Great support will be needed in the coming days for all those affected. As Mayor, I will continue to work with the police department, elected officials and community partners to make Chester a safe place to live.”
