Suspect in Bensalem shooting dead; family of slain boy 'relieved,' feared he would kill again

The man developed as a person of interest in the shooting death of a 14-year-old Bensalem boy has killed himself, police said Friday morning.

Sean Hughes, 19, of Morrisville, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Marysville, Ohio, police said. His vehicle had been identified as the one used in the Tuesday shooting, Bensalem police said. Hughes was never charged in the murder, but was a person of interest.

Police had considered Hughes a person of interest in the Halloween killing of Peter Romano, 14. The boy was with a group of juveniles at a Bensalem strip mall on Bristol Pike hanging out when someone opened fire, striking Romano and two others.

Police detail pursuing Sean Hughes, then found dead from self-inflicted gunshot wound

Law enforcement said Hughes fled from police around 2 p.m. Thursday in Ohio when they tried to stop the stolen vehicle he was driving. Ohio police said he was considered armed and dangerous as they pursued him.

"On Thursday, Nov. 2, the Marysville Police Department in Ohio, observed the 2014 Hyundai Elantra and attempted to conduct a traffic stop based on a License Plate Reader hit," read a statement from the Bensalem Township Police Department. "The driver failed to stop and a pursuit ensued."

At that point, Hughes reportedly got out of the car and ran from police. Officers later found him dead of self-inflicted gunshot, police said.

Officers also said Hughes was traveling with another male, who also jumped from the vehicle. The unidentified passenger was later found "laying in tall weeds a short distance from the road," Marysville police said.

He was taken into custody and taken to a hospital for a medical issue, police said. HE has not been charged in Ohio or Pennsylvania with any crimes.

Police said the Elantra had been stolen out of Bristol Township, but provided no other details about that crime.

Marysville is about 27 miles outside of Columbus, Ohio.

Peter’s aunt, Angela Romano, said when her family was told Thursday night police had found Hughes, it was an answer to their prayers.

“I was relieved because it was scary,” she said. “Was he going to do this again? He just opened fire on kids. How can you do that? How can you open fire on kids and just keep shooting? It’s just terrible.”

Authorities said the investigation will continue in an attempt to identify any other suspects, including any other occupants in the car.

Bensalem Director of Public Safety William McVey said as of right now, there were no indications that others were in the car at the time of the shooting, but the investigation is looking into that possibility, along with searching for any accomplices of Hughes that may have been involved.

"This investigation is still very active," McVey said. "And we are still urging any witnesses of individuals with info to contact us immediately; people can also submit information anonymously through our social media channels."

Little is known about Hughes at this time.

He briefly attended Pennsbury High School from the 2019 to 2021 academic years, but was "then placed in an alternate environment where he has remained," according to school officials.

While police identified him as a Morrisville man, other law enforcement sources say he lived in Lower Makefield, which would make him a Pennsbury student. Police in Lower Makefield said they had no contact or dealings with Hughes prior to the shooting.

There were no active criminal charges filed against him at the time of his death, according to a search of Pennsylvania court records.

Where did the gun come from in the Halloween shooting in Bensalem?

Police in Bensalem and Maryville Ohio have not released information about the gun Hughes had with him or if it was the same caliber used in the triple shooting that killed Romano.

McVey said he had no information as of Friday afternoon about the gun Hughes had with him in Ohio, and that ballistics testing would need to be completed.

Also unknown at this point is where Hughes got the firearm. The minimum age to purchase a handgun in Pennsylvania is 21. Hughes was 19.

Vigil held for shooting victim Peter Romano

More than 200 people gathered at a parking lot Thursday night where Romano was shot and killed on Halloween night, one of three teens struck by a hail of bullets fired by a still unknown suspect.

Some mourners were adults like Louann McLaughlin. The Bristol Township resident came to represent her 15-year-old grandson, who she said was at the shopping center when the shooting happened.

He told her when the gunfire started, he jumped over a fence and played dead, McLaughlin said.

But most who gathered on a bitter November night were young faces etched with raw grief.

Some teens walked 10 miles to the shopping center on Bristol Pike in Bensalem for the candlelight vigil. The two teens who survived the shooting attended in wheelchairs.

They came to honor a boy who everyone described as funny, respectful, sweet, happy-go-lucky, really, really nice guy from a good family. People often confused Peter and his twin brother, Nicky, who was at the vigil with the boys' parents Thursday night.

Vigil held for 14-year-old Peter Romano Prayers for Peter Romano, and a plea to his killer: 'You know who you are...do what's right'

Community morns loss of Peter Romano: Community mourns loss of Peter Romano, teen boy killed in Bensalem Halloween shooting

Bensalem police urge calm, caution against any vigilantism

Meanwhile, Bensalem Police said investigators are running down all leads about other potential suspects in the shooting, including anyone who was in the car when Romano was gunned down.

But police are also encouraging calm in the community.

"We understand that people in our community are affected emotionally by this tragedy, and some to the extent that they may wish to take the law into their own hands. This must not happen," read a statement from the Bensalem police.

"If anyone has a tip, a lead, or information regarding this incident, please report it to the Bensalem Township Police Department. We will continue to investigate this homicide so that we can hold all people responsible for it accountable to the fullest extent of the law."

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Sean Hughes, person of interest in Bensalem Halloween shooting, dead: police