Updated: Man Charged with Homicide and 2 Counts of Murder by Bensalem Police in Apt Complex Fight, Shooting

***Update – 7/7/24 – 12:30pm***

Lower Bucks Source (LBS) learned from authorities that Bensalem police questioned numerous witnesses at the scene and determined that Mendoza Ramirez lives in the Bucks Meadows Apartment Complex.

***Original Story***

A man has been charged with criminal homicide, murder in the first degree and murder of the third degree by Bensalem authorities early Sunday morning in what appears to be a man killing another, due to a bruised ego.

Abel Mendoza Ramirez, 31, was arraigned by on-call District Judge Joseph P. Falcone just after midnight Sunday. Bail was denied for the suspect who, as of publication time, has no known address.

The  shooting incident occurred late Saturday afternoon with Bensalem Police responding to the  Bucks Meadows Apartment Complex 3100 block of Knights Road around 5:30 p.m. police said in court records.

Police said  Jose Miguel Tenorio Ruiz, just turned 40 last month, and Abel Mendoza  Ramirez, were involved in a minor physical altercation at the apartment complex of which Tenorio Ruiz was the victor. Following the altercation, Mendoza Ramirez  walked back to his vehicle, which was parked in the rear parking lot of building 7. Mendoza  Ramirez returned with a green–handled semi–automatic pistol in his waistband.  Mendoza Ramirez approached Tenorio Ruiz, and the two exchanged words. Mendoza Ramirez  removed the firearm from his waistband and fired two (2) rounds into the ground by Tenorio  Ruiz. Tenorio Ruiz moved towards Mendoza Ramirez and attempted to take the firearm away  from him. Mendoza Ramirez fired, shooting Tenorio Ruiz in the torso, court records allege. 

Tenorio Ruiz was transported via ambulance to Jefferson- Torresdale Hospital in Philadelphia for emergency medical treatment. Tenorio Ruiz succumbed to the gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased, said investigators. 

Following the shooting, Mendoza Ramirez entered his 2006 Ford Van with a Pennsylvania registration and fled the parking lot. Mendoza Ramirez was located in Newtown Township at 6:38pm and was subsequently taken into custody. Mendoza Ramirez’s vehicle was secured and towed to Bensalem Township for further evidence collection, according to court records. 

Mendoza Ramirez is currently scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 17 in front of Magisterial District Judge Michael W. Gallagher.