NEW PHILADELPHIA, SCHUYLKILL CO. (WOLF) — Seven search warrants have shed light on details of the ongoing investigation into the homicide of two teenagers in New Philadelphia.
According to search warrants from the office of Magisterial District Judge Dave Plachko, Pennsylvania State Police responded on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, around 11:50 p.m. to Ferndale Road in New Philadelphia for a report about a man knocking on the front door of a home asking the residents inside for help.
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Upon arriving at the home, troopers made contact with the 19-year-old individual, described as "soaking wet, with ripped sweatpants, no shoes, and visibly shaking from the cold."
The individual told police that he had been hanging out with 16-year-old Angelito Caraballo and 18-year-old Hunter Mock. He advised Caraballo and Mock to bring another man with them, identified as Lamour Branch, 19, in the woods to hang out.
He stated that the four of them went into the woods near a body of water, when, "for unknown reasons," Branch pulled out a firearm and began shooting at the three teens, the search warrant states.
The 19-year-old witness stated that he ran away for 25-30 minutes, swimming through the pond to escape. While running, he lost contact with Caraballo and Mock.
On Monday, Oct. 9, state police received two missing persons reports for Caraballo and Mock.
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, at around 3:25 a.m., state police received a phone call from a friend of the two missing teens, claiming that she found their bodies at "The Sanchez," an old mining area filled with water where individuals have bonfires off Ferndale Road. The bodies matched the descriptions of the missing teens.
The coroner then arrived on the scene and declared them deceased, stating that Mock sustained a gunshot wound to the head and Caraballo sustained several puncture wounds/laceration-type injuries which were fatal.
On Oct. 10, a female friend of the involved was interviewed and told police that Mock told her that he and Caraballo were going to hang out with Branch to shoot a gun, and when she tried to contact him again later that night, she received no response.
Afterward, on Oct. 10, police interviewed the 19-year-old witness who managed to run away. He told police that Branch pointed the firearm at the water before pointing it in the direction of Caraballo and Mock. The three ran away, but the witness heard about 10-20 gunshots.
During the investigation, Branch was taken into custody on unrelated theft and burglary charges following an interview with a female witness involving a vehicle and residence in Luzerne County.
State police interviewed Branch about the incident, and he allegedly lied about his location on the night of the shooting. He also reportedly told investigators that the 19-year-old witness shot Mock in the head.
However, Branch then said he pointed the gun at Caraballo and attempted to shoot, but the gun did not fire, according to the warrant.
At this point in the investigation, authorities are continuing to search and collect the DNA of individuals involved.
At this time no charges have been filed against Branch in the double homicide investigation.
He is currently in the Schuylkill County Prison on unrelated theft and burglary charges, unable to post bail.
GoFundMes have been set up by both Caraballo and Mock for funeral expenses.
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