Credit: Falls police
Police filed an arrest warrant early Sunday morning for an “armed and dangerous” man who they allege shot his girlfriend’s ex-husband Saturday night.
According to the arrest warrant filed by Falls Township police and Bucks County Detectives, Luis Medina, 33, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, shot Richardo Perez in the lower back at a youth boxing match at Pennsbury Racquet and Athletic Club on West Trenton Avenue shortly before 6 p.m.
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Medina is suspected of being in the Maple Shade or Camden areas, police said.
Perez was rushed into emergency surgery at St. Mary Medical Center after he was shot. As of early Sunday, he was listed as being in the intensive care unit, police said.
Investigators said Medina was with his girlfriend at the athletic club for her son’s boxing match. Perez is the ex-husband of Medina’s girlfriend.
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In court papers, a witness said Perez approached Medina and his girlfriend. Medina pushed Perez’s hand away and words were exchanged. At some point, Medina reportedly lifted his shirt to indicate he had a weapon.
The two men walked into a hallway at the athletic club. A friend of Perez told police Medina again lifted his shirt and the witness punched him in the face out of fear. Medina fell against the wall and then fired his gun, striking Perez.
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A off-duty police officer told investigators he saw the confrontation and heard a gunshot. He saw Medina with a handgun and tried to chase down the suspect as he ran toward Morrisville Borough.
Officers from Falls, Lower Makefield, Morrisville and Tullytown searched the area and last had a report of Medina near West Trenton Avenue and Plaza Boulevard.
Medina was described by police as a 5-foot-11, 220-pound Hispanic male with brown eyes, black hair, a goatee and mustache.
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Medina is wanted on charges of aggravated assault, attempted criminal homicide, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of an instrument of crime and reckless endangerment.
Pennsbury Racquet and Athletic Club released a statement on the shooting Sunday morning:
On Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Pennsbury Racquet and Athletic Club rented out space in the fitness center sports room to an organization to host a youth boxing event fundraiser. The evening was meant to be a fun outlet for the children to display their talents and raise money for a good cause. Unfortunately, in what was essentially a domestic dispute and premeditated act, an alleged boyfriend got into an altercation with the father of one of the children boxing and shot the father. The man who was shot is in the hospital recovering. We called police immediately and they were on the scene to clear the area. No one else was injured. We cooperated fully with investigators, who assured us the area is safe and this was an isolated, highly unusual circumstance. Pennsbury Racquet and Athletic Club continues to offer a safe, family friendly environment for many organizations and youth sports.
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Those with useful information that could help the investigation are asked to contact Detective Stephen Reeves at 215-949-9100 ext. 430 or email s.reeves@fallstwp.com. Anonymous tips can be reported to 215-949-9120 or hitback@fallstwp.com.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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