Abel Mendoza-Ramirez, 31, who lives at Bucks Meadow Apartments in Bensalem, has been arrested in connection with a Saturday evening fatal shooting at the Knights Road complex.
Killed in the altercation was Jose Miguel Tenorio-Ruiz, 40, who was pronounced dead shortly after Bensalem EMS transported him to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital.
In a statement posted on Crimewatch, Bensalem Police said they responded to a 911 call for a shooting near Building 7 of the complex at about 5:45 p.m. Saturday and found Tenorio-Ruiz laying on the ground near the rear parking lot with what police characterized as an apparent gunshot wound to the torso.
The alleged shooter had fled the scene in a Ford van. Investigation allegedly revealed that Mendoza-Ramirez and Tenorio-Ruiz knew each other and had been involved in a physical altercation, after which Mendoza-Ramirez reportedly retrieved a semi-automatic handgun from his vehicle and confronted the other man with it. During an ensuing struggle, Mendoza-Ramirez fired the gun, shooting Tenorio-Ruiz.
A description of the suspect and vehicle were broadcast, said police, who added a Newtown Township police officer stopped the vehicle near Newtown Cemetery and took Mendoza-Ramirez into custody without incident.
According to police reports, he faces charges of criminal homicide, murder in the first degree, murder in the third degree and possession of an Instrument of Crime. He was arraigned by District Justice Joseph Falcone and sent to the Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.