Suspect in killing of 77-year-old man in Philadelphia arrested in Massachusetts

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The suspect accused of killing a man on his morning walk last month in Philadelphia has been arrested in Massachusetts, according to the Boston Police Department.

Wagner Tejeda-Pena, 24, was wanted in the deadly shooting of Loi Nguyen on June 21 in the 4200 block of L Street.


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Surveillance video shows the suspect running up behind Nguyen and shooting him once in the back of the head as he was returning from his morning walk.

Investigators said they found one spent shell casing from a semi-automatic weapon just a few inches from the victim.

SEE ALSO: 76-year-old man on morning walk killed outside Juniata home: Police


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Police said he was found near his backyard door. Nguyen was pronounced dead at 5:44 a.m. by medics at the scene.

Fifteen minutes before the murder, police said Tejeda-Pena pulled a handgun on two victims on the 1200 block of East Luzerne. He allegedly pulled the trigger several times in an attempt to discharge the weapon, but the gun malfunctioned and he fled the scene.



Wagner Tejeda-Pena was also wanted for two stabbing incidents in Boston and he recently made threats to kill family members, the Boston Police Department said Thursday.

On Friday morning, Boston police announced Tejeda-Pena was taken into custody.

They said he was placed under arrest at about 11:27 p.m. Thursday in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
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"BPD Fugitive Unit transported the suspect to Area E-5 where he was booked. He will be arraigned (Friday) in the West Roxbury District Court," Boston police tweeted.



Pena was charged as a fugitive from justice in connection with the Philadelphia homicide. He was also charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon out of Boston.



"Made me sick, but I had a good feeling this week that something was going to happen with this and find this scumball. He is a scumball," said Juniata neighbor Jerry Bollendorf. "It's a good day. I feel better not worrying about this knucklehead walking around."

"The faces on everyone around here, it changed drastically, we're not the same. Getting this guy off the street was a blessing," said Tony Mezquita.

Pena is being held without bail.

SEE ALSO: Suspect wanted in deadly shooting of 76-year-old man in Juniata Park identified