Cheerleaders Shot After Getting Into Wrong Vehicle On Way Home From Practice

Two members of a Texas cheerleading team were shot after one of them got into the wrong car at a parking lot after a practice session, police said. One of them was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition early Tuesday.

Elgin Police arrested a 25-year-old man, identified as Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr., for the shootings, reported ABC News.

Four cheerleaders, who are part of an elite competitive cheerleading team in Oak Ridge, were on their way home from practice when they had an altercation with an armed man just after midnight.

The athletes were carpooling and had reached their meet-up spot, which was the parking lot of an HEB store in Elgin.

One of the cheerleaders, Heather Roth, said on Instagram Live that she exited her friend's vehicle and then opened the door of a car she thought was her own. When she noticed a man sitting in the passenger seat, she panicked and got back inside her friend's vehicle.

Roth rolled down her window when she noticed Rodriguez approaching the vehicle and apologize to him. But the man allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at the vehicle.

The HEB store manager witnessed the gunman "shoot at the vehicle multiple times," before fleeing, an affidavit said.

Investigators said Roth was grazed by a bullet and was treated at the scene. The other injured cheerleader, 18-year-old Payton Washington, was in critical condition after being shot in the leg and her back.

"Payton opens the door, and she starts throwing up blood," Roth said.

Washington was transferred to a hospital and is on the road to recovery.

"She's really a huge face in the all-star cheerleading world. She's a mentor and role model to so many kids in this industry. She's an amazing athlete, amazing kid, so everybody knows her and everybody's praying for her..." said Lynne Shearer, the owner of the gym where the cheerleaders were training.

Washington, born with only one lung, reportedly earned a scholarship to join Baylor University's tumble and acrobatics team after completing her high school education. She was also preparing to compete in an Allstar Cheerleader World Championship this month but can no longer do so.

"It's the only title (Washington) hasn't won in All-Star Cheer. She's literally won everything there is to win in this sport except for a world title, and this was her last chance to do that," Shearer told ABC13. "Payton is the ultimate competitor. She would not want her team not to go and not be at this championship and not compete. So we will be there, and we will compete."

Rodriguez was arrested following the shooting and was charged with deadly conduct, a third-degree felony. He could face additional charges, police said in a statement.