The defendant in the July killing of a man in the parking lot of a Bensalem Township apartment complex was ordered held for trial by Magisterial District Judge Michael W. Gallagher.

At Wednesday’s preliminary hearing at the Bucks County Justice Center, Gallagher heard testimony from a witness of the shooting and three law enforcement officers in ruling that Abel Mendoza-Ramirez, 31, should stand trial for the killing of 40-year-old as Jose Miguel Tenorio-Ruiz.

Gallagher scheduled Mendoza-Ramirez to be formally arraigned on Sept. 27.

Mendoza-Ramirez is charged with criminal homicide, first-degree murder, third-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime. On Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Carrie Worton added charges of person not to possess a firearm and possession of a firearm without a license.

This investigation began at 5:48 p.m. on July 6 when Bensalem Township Police were dispatched to the Bucks Meadows Apartments, 3131 Knights Road, on a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they located Tenorio-Ruiz in a rear parking lot with an apparent gunshot wound to the torso. 

Officers immediately began life-saving measures until EMS arrived. He was transported to the hospital and was pronounced dead a short time later.

Police received information that the shooter fled the scene before police arrived. The shooter was identified by witnesses as Mendoza-Ramirez, who lives in the Bucks Meadows Apartment Complex.

A witness who lived in the apartment complex testified Wednesday he was in the rear parking lot near Building 7 for a cookout with others, including Mendoza-Ramirez and the victim. The witness said he was grilling corn when he observed the two men involved in a physical altercation.

He said Tenorio-Ruiz twice knocked Mendoza-Ramirez to the ground. After the second time, Mendoza-Ramirez went back to his work van, returned and stood right in front of Tenorio-Ruiz.

After exchanging words, Mendoza-Ramirez pulled the gun from his waistband and fired two rounds into the ground near the victim. Tenorio-Ruiz tried to grab Mendoza-Ramirez in a bearhug in an attempt to take the gun, but Mendoza-Ramirez fired, striking Tenorio-Ruiz in the torso.

 Mendoza-Ramirez fled in his work van and the witness said he called 911 and remained with the victim until help arrived. About an hour later, Mendoza-Ramirez was taken into custody by Newtown Township Police.

An officer with Homeland Security testified Wednesday that Mendoza-Ramirez was in the country illegally, making him ineligible to possess a firearm.

This case was investigated by Bensalem Township Police Department, Bucks County Detectives, the Newtown Township Police Department and Homeland Security, and is assigned for prosecution to Deputy District Attorney Carrie Worton and Assistant District Attorney Andrew Bukowski.

Media Contact: Manuel Gamiz Jr., 215.348.6298, mgamiz@buckscounty.org

Criminal charges are allegations subject to proof in court. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.