Bucks County

Bensalem police arrest gunman who, they say, killed a 40-year-old man during ‘minor physical altercation'

Police in Bensalem have arrested 31-year-old Abel Mendoza-Ramirez after he, allegedly, fired shots into the ground during a 'minor physical altercation' with a 40-year-old man before shooting and killing him

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Police in Bensalem are investigating after apprehending a man who, they believe, shot and killed a 40-year-old man during, what police called, a "minor physical altercation" at an apartment complex on Saturday evening.

According to police, Abel Mendoza-Ramirez, 31, of Bensalem, has been apprehended and charged with murder and related offenses after 40-year-old Jose Miguel Tenorio-Ruiz was shot and killed in the Bucks Meadows Apartment complex on the 3100 block of Knights Road, in Bensalem on Saturday.

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Law enforcement officials said the shooting happened at about 5:48 p.m., when, they believe Tenorio-Ruiz and Mendoza-Ramirez were engaged in, what police believe was, a "minor physical altercation."

At some point during that altercation, officials said that witnesses told police that Mendoza-Ramirez left the scene and went to his personal vehicle and returned with a semi-automatic handgun.

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When Mendoza-Ramirez returned, police said that witnesses told officers that he fired twice into the ground near Tenorio-Ruiz after they again exchanged words.

After those shots were fired, police said that Tenorio-Ruiz attempted to take the gun away from Mendoza-Ramirez at which time he was shot in the torso.

After the shooting, police officials said, Mendoza-Ramirez fled the scene in a Ford van, which was stopped at approximately 6:40 p.m. on Saturday night by an officer in Newtown Township. Mendoza-Ramirez was taken into custody at that time without incident, officials said.

First responders to the scene at the Bucks Meadows Apartments complex immediately attempted life-saving procedures on Tenorio-Ruiz, but he was pronounced at a nearby hospital shortly after the shooting, according to police.

Police said that Mendoza-Ramirez is currently in custody at the Bucks County Jail where he is being held without bail.

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