Heather Roth Cheerleader: What Happened in Texas?: A man shot Heather Roth, a 21-year-old cheerleader, and her friend in Texas. The incident occurred in Elgin a town about 25 miles northeast of Austin.
On Tuesday night Heather and her friend who are both members of the Woodlands Elite Cheer Company were shot by a man in a parking lot. The shooting made the local community very upset and showed that gun violence is still a big problem in the United States.
Mistaken Identity and Gun Violence
This shooting is very sad and reminds us that it’s important to pay attention to our surroundings so we don’t make mistakes. This shooting also shows that it’s a big problem in the United States that it’s too easy for people to get guns, and that’s why things like this can happen.
The Shooting
Heather and her friend left the gym with two other friends and used the parking lot of a grocery store in Elgin as a carpool meeting point. Heather got out of her friend’s car and opened the door of a car that looked like hers, but there was a man sitting inside mistake.
Heather went back to her friend’s car, but the man followed them and shot both girls when they rolled down the window to tell him it was an accident.
The Injuries
Heather suffered a graze wound while her friend was shot in the back and leg. She required hospitalization and the removal of her spleen. The shootings of Heather and her friend and two other incidents in New York and Missouri have drawn international attention to U.S. gun culture.
The Shooter’s Arrest
The shooter Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr. was charged with deadly conduct a felony that carries up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10000.
Support for the Victims
Woodlands Elite started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover Heather’s friend’s medical expenses. The campaign had raised over $66000 by Wednesday.
Heather and her friend are both role models in the cheerleading industry and the Woodlands Elite team has become like a family to them. The team has pledged to support Heather’s friend and the other affected team members every step of the way.
Impact on the Victims’ Future Plans
Heather’s friend was scheduled to participate in the Cheerleading Worlds event in Florida and has signed up to join the acrobatic and tumbling team at Baylor University. She has only one lung and her injuries may impact her future plans.