MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — Motorcycle gang members were arrested for a Pennsylvania Wawa shooting where multiple bystanders were struck by gunfire, according to officials.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele announced Friday that charges were filed against nine members of the Pagans Outlaw Motorcycle Gang: George Cwienk III, 51, Joel Hernandez-Martinez, 36, George Hripto Jr., 50, Jason Lawless, 45, all of Bridgeport; Manuel Baez-Santos, 34, of Norristown; Erik Dixon, 33, of King of Prussia; Luke Higgins, 29, of Dauberville; Justin Noll, 34, of Reading; and Erik Rosenberger, 46, of East Greenville.
Steele outlined the events leading up to the Oct 17 shooting at the Wawa along W. Main Street in West Norriton Township, saying two members of another motorcycle gang were filling up their bikes when the nine defendants were riding by.
Steele said some of the Pagans members surrounded the opposing gang members, while others positioned themselves to block escape. A scuffle immediately ensued as the Pagans tried to remove the opposing gang’s colors, and other Pagans positioned themselves to get ready for a shooting.
It only took a minute for gunfire to erupt after the Pagans arrived, Steele said. The defendants then rode away toward Norristown.
Two bystanders were shot, Steele said. A man who was putting air in his vehicle’s tire was shot in the face and a woman who was standing by the Wawa’s doors was shot in the torso, Steele said. One of the opposing gang members was also shot in the thigh.
A customer inside the Wawa that was locked down during the shooting was able to call 911. Police did find 14 spent casings at the scene.
According to Steele, police were able to find five Pagans traveling on Main Street after the shooting and saw that three of them were also shot.
Charges of aggravated assault, riot, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person were filed against the nine defendants. Eight of them were placed in Montgomery County Correctional Facility while the other is on unsecured bail due to medical treatment.
Thanks for signing up!
Watch for us in your inbox.
Subscribe Now
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 10.
Cwienk also faces aggravated assault and other charges for intentionally trying to cause a motorcycle crash in Chester County in September, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Another motorcyclist, Brian Blattner, 37, who is also charged, allegedly caused a woman to be thrown off her motorcycle after he abruptly turned into her lane. She then swerved and hit a barrier before being tossed off her bike.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.