State troopers arrested suspect Adrian Oswaldo Sura Reyes of Nescopeck in the mass casualty incident in Columbia on Saturday, WBRE/WYOU reported. Police believe the same 24-year-old is behind a shooting in Luzerne County that left a woman dead shortly after the crash in Columbia. The local Press Enterprise reported that the woman was the suspect’s mother. He reportedly argued with her before fatally beating her. State Trooper Anthony Petroski told the press that several people attending a fundraiser for the families of the 10 people who died in a fire in Nescopeck were hit by a car around 6:15 p.m. Saturday. Columbia County Coroner Jeremy Rees told Eyewitness News that one person, a 50-year-old woman, died at the scene of the crash. Her identity is being withheld pending family notification. Shortly after the crash, Pennsylvania State Police said they received a call about a man assaulting a woman. When they arrived at that separate scene, they found a dead woman and Mr. Reyes, who had been taken into custody by city police, WBRE/WYOU reported. According to authorities, he is facing two counts of murder. He is currently being held at the Columbia County Correctional Facility, where bond has been denied. Mr Petroski would not confirm whether the clash in the crowd was intentional. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing. Reporters first interacted with Mr. Reyes at 3 a.m. on Sunday as he was placed in a vehicle outside the state police station in Shikshinny. When asked for comment, he said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” according to WBRE/WYOU. “Amidst a sea of people and commotion, there is a heavy law enforcement presence, including state police forensics and reconstruction units, as well as a heavy first responder presence,” Eyewitness News reporter Madonna Mantione said Saturday night. according to WBRE/WYOU. . Pastor Brad Iverson of Berwick Bible Church told Eyewitness News that “I was at home having a barbecue and I started getting messages from people at my church that this was happening, so I thought they might need some spiritual support considering what happened here ». “They need help so I just thought I’d come down to see if there was anything I could do,” he added. The surrounding area near Center Street in Berwick was closed after the crash. The bar where the incident happened, the Toxicology Department, has announced that it will be closed until further notice. Mr. Petroski said Mr. Reyes was not a suspect “at this time” in the Aug. 5 house fire in Nescopeck that killed ten people, according to the Times Leader. The Department of Toxicology said on Facebook that the accident “was an absolute tragedy. We will be closed until further notice. Please respect our privacy while we grieve and try to process the events that occurred. Thanks”. Of the 17 people injured in the crash in Berwick, 12 were taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, three were taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, one was taken to Berwick Hospital and one was taken to Geisinger Center in Bloomsburg, according to the Times Leader. In Danville Saturday night, four people were in critical condition, three were in fair condition and five were still being evaluated, the newspaper reported. One of those taken to Wyoming Valley was treated and released from care. Mr Petroski said the crime scenes were both “very active”. He said there are “a lot of moving parts in both investigations,” according to the newspaper.
