Cops Close Investigation Into Fatal Halloween Shooting

March 15, 2024

The investigation into the shooting death of a 14-year-old Pietro “Peter” Romano last Halloween has ended, according to police and prosecutors.

The shooting unfolded on the evening of October 31, 2023 at the intersection of Route 13 and Woodbine Avenue. Romano was killed and a 17-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man were wounded.

Following what authorities said was an extensive investigation involving dozens of witness interviews and the execution of several search warrants, the Bensalem Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office have closed the case, attributing the shooting solely to Sean Hughes, 19, of Lower Makefield Township.

Hughes, the prime suspect, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police chase in Marysville, Ohio, on November 2, 2023.

Ballistic tests confirmed that the fired cartridges and two bullets recovered at the Bensalem Township crime scene, including the one retrieved from Romano’s body, were discharged from Hughes’ Sig Sauer handgun. Further DNA analysis matched Hughes to the weapon, police said.

The investigation delved into Hughes’ communications and found no evidence of conspiracy or assistance in the shooting. However, it was uncovered that Hughes had fled to Ohio with the help of Joshua “Jay” Marquez, 25, of Levittown, who has been charged with obstructing justice and related offenses for his role in aiding Hughes post-homicide, police said.

Joshua Marquez.
Credit: Bucks County Sheriff’s Office

Following the police chase near Columbus, Ohio, Hughes and Marquez bailed from the stolen car and a short manhunt took place. It ended with Marquez in custody and Hughes shooting himself in the head, authorities said.

Additionally, the probe led to the arrest of Kenrick R. Winslow, 69, of Chalfont, who was charged with the alleged illegal transfer of the firearm used in the shooting. The elderly man was charged Thursday and released on bail.

The Sig Sauer handgun had been stolen from a Philadelphia apartment and traced back to a transaction made by Winslow several years prior, police said.

While the investigation has determined that Hughes acted alone in the events of last Halloween, authorities are still open to hear further information that may come to light, police said.

Pietro “Peter” Romano, the 14-year-old boy who was shot dead.

“The Bensalem Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office would like to offer their condolences to the Romano family and the families of the two other shooting victims,” police said.

In their statement, the police department and district attorney’s office thanked the Marysville (Ohio) Police Department and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau for assisting.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.