Categories: CrimeLocalNews

Police identify suspect in killing of 77-year-old Juniata man

Police on Thursday identified a suspect wanted in connection with the June 21 fatal shooting of a 77-year-old man who was walking in the driveway behind his house in Juniata.

Wagner Tejada-Pena, 24, is accused of killing Loi Nguyen at around 5:30 a.m. on the 4200 block of L Street.

Surveillance video from the area shows a gunman in a red hoodie, who authorities believe to be Tejada-Pena, running up behind Nguyen and shooting him in the head. The suspect did not break stride.

At the time of killing, Police Chief Inspector Frank Vanore said Nguyen was shot “for no apparent reason at all.” He was declared dead at the scene by medics.

About 15 minutes before the shooting, Tejada-Pena pulled a gun on two men who were standing on the nearby 1200 block of E. Luzerne Street, investigators allege.

He pulled the trigger several times, but the gun malfunctioned and did not fire, authorities said. The victims attempted to wrestle away the weapon; however, Tejada-Pena escaped, according to police.

Tejada-Pena is expected to be charged with murder relating to Nguyen’s death and aggravated assault for the Luzerne Street incident.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call the PPD’s Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or leave an anonymous tip at 215-686-8477.

Jack Tomczuk

Jack Tomczuk is a Philadelphia native who started as a news reporter for Metro in March 2020 (just a couple days before COVID hit). Previously, he wrote for the Northeast Times, The Sun newspapers in Burlington and Camden counties and the Press of Atlantic City.

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