A Texas high school cheerleader is in critical condition after being shot in a grocery store parking lot along with three other cheerleaders.
The incident occurred on April 17, just after midnight, when Payton Washington and her teammates returned home from an out-of-town cheer practice at Woodlands Elite in Woodlands, Texas. The girls had left their cars in the parking lot of the local grocery store, H-E-B, and were carpooling to a cheerleading competition.
Heather Roth, one of the cheerleaders, allegedly mistook a man's car for her own and tried to get in before noticing the man in the passenger seat. She quickly realized her mistake and turned away to find her actual car. According to police, 25-year-old Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr. was in the other vehicle with a gun and fired multiple shots at the girls following a brief altercation. A bullet grazed Roth, while Washington was shot in the leg and back.
Lynne Shearer, the owner of Woodlands Elite, expressed her shock and sadness at the incident, calling it a "harrowing night" for all four cheerleaders involved. "It was a harrowing night for all four of those girls," Shearer told FOX 7.
Despite her severe injuries, Washington's friends and family do not doubt that she will fully recover. "She literally was born with one lung, so she from the very beginning as a baby, she wasn't even expected to survive, let alone, excel in athletics, so she's surpassed a lot of things already," Shearer said.
"She's literally an icon in the world of all-star cheerleader. I mean, definitely at our gym, but literally all around the country she has so many little kids look up to her," Shearer added.
This weekend was supposed to be a big one for Payton, as she was set to compete in her last All-Star Cheerleader World Championships. "She's won every title there is to win in All-Star cheerleader except for a world title, so that makes this super heartbreaking for her," Shearer said.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community, with many rallying around the injured girls and their families. Elgin Police Department arrested Rodriguez on Tuesday, April 18. Rodriguez left the H-E-B parking lot after the shooting, and officers worked through the night to find him. He was charged with deadly conduct, but additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
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