On the morning of June 21, 2022, 77-year-old Vietnamese-American man Loi Nguyen was fatally shot in the head while returning from his routine walk in the Juniata Park neighborhood of Philadelphia. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. in the alleyway behind his home on the 4200 block of L Street. Surveillance footage captured the assailant, later identified as 24-year-old Wagner Tejeda-Pena, approaching Nguyen from behind and shooting him once in the back of the head without any apparent
provocation. Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene by medics at 5:44 a.m.
Approximately 15 minutes prior to the shooting, Tejeda-Pena allegedly attempted an aggravated assault on two individuals on the 1200 block of East Luzerne Street. He reportedly pulled a handgun on the victims and pulled the trigger several times; however, the weapon malfunctioned and did not discharge. The victims attempted to disarm Tejeda-Pena, but he fled the scene.
Following the murder, Tejeda-Pena was considered armed and dangerous and was wanted for both the homicide of Loi Nguyen and the earlier aggravated assault. He was also sought in connection with two stabbing incidents in Boston, Massachusetts, and had reportedly made threats against family members. On July 14, 2022, Tejeda-Pena was arrested without incident in Lawrence, Massachusetts, during a motor vehicle stop. He was charged as a fugitive from justice in connection with the Philadelphia homicide and faced additional charges related to the Boston incidents.
The murder of 77-year-old Vietnamese-American man Loi Nguyen shocked the local community, where he was known as a friendly and routine presence during his early morning walks. Neighbors expressed disbelief and sorrow over the loss of a man who was described as a good husband, father, and grandfather. The unprovoked nature of the attack and the randomness of the violence left many residents feeling unsafe and mourning the senseless loss.
