Two young boys playing with a kitten on the pavement had been shot dead together with a teenager by gunmen.

They were identified as Jesus Perez-Salome, 8, and Sebastian Perez-Salome, 9, and it is believed that the older boy Joshua Lugo-Perez, 19, was the intended target.

It is known that the teenager was not related to the boys but was living at the same address in Lebanon County in Pennsylvania in the US.

Jesus and Sebastian were playing outside with their kitten when they were killed, according to local media.

A neighbour of the three, identified as Luis Cancel, 33, was also hit by a stray bullet during the killing.

Lebanon Police Chief Bret Fisher revealed that they had apparently been a dispute between the suspected killers and the teenager and the shooting was therefore seemingly a settlement of scores.

Fisher confirmed that there was a “past argument” which was the reason for the attack without going into further details.

In the wake of the shocking killings, two people have been arrested, and the third adult male is currently being sought.

One of those named by Lebanon County Probation was Alex Torres-Santos, 22, who was arrested after he was seen “arriving to, remaining in, and fleeing from the exact area of the shooting at the time the homicide occurred.”

James Fernandez-Reyes, who was at Torres-Santos’ residence when he was arrested, also attempted to flee but was located by police after a lengthy search and also taken into custody.

The third man is on the run.

Lebanon Mayor Sherry Capello said: “As a mom, I cannot overstate how heartbroken I am for the families. I cannot imagine what these families are going through right now. It is unimaginable.I am heartbroken for our community.”