Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a man connected to the Valencia murder of José Andrés Peña, who was found dead after being stabbed near the Moreras bridge on a Tuesday evening. The suspect was taken into custody on Thursday night by National Police officers along Paseo de Neptuno, opposite the hotel bearing that name. The detainee, a 31-year-old local resident with a history of violent incidents, did not resist arrest. At this stage, investigators have not disclosed any established link between him and the victim, nor the nature of their possible interaction prior to the incident.
Initial reporting indicates that the suspect has exhibited serious antisocial behavior over at least the last five years. This history prompted the homicide unit to monitor him closely, using security camera footage to flag potential dangers and advise patrols to exercise heightened caution in encounters. The identity of the individual, Felipe B. B., was disseminated to all patrols in the area as the case was updated.
The investigative file notes that the suspect was described as exceptionally dangerous and violent, with unpredictable conduct. He was believed to be armed, having carried a large knife concealed in a bag, which was implicated in the fatal attack on José Andrés, who was pursued through the Eduardo Primo Yúfera street toward the Moreras bridge. The assailant reportedly closed in on his target on a stairway at the bridge and delivered a single fatal neck wound, according to local reporting. At present, it remains unclear whether the crime stemmed from a preexisting grievance or emerged spontaneously under unknown circumstances. Law enforcement has recovered security footage that is being scrutinized to determine how the confrontation unfolded and where the two men stood in the minutes leading up to the assault.
Antecedentes violentos
The person accused in the case was first detained at the age of 19, on February 20, 2012, during clashes between protesters and riot police in Valencia. Those protests, linked to student demonstrations, led to a significant shakeup within local law enforcement leadership. At that time, the suspect was a high school senior and one of several students detained after clashes with police. He later recounted to the media that he sought medical attention for ankle and arm pain after the incident.
Contemporaneous reports have painted a picture of a young individual who frequently displayed aggressive tendencies in encounters with the police, prompting warnings for officers to proceed with extreme caution when identifying him. It is not yet clear whether past conflicts with José Andrés influenced the most recent incident or if the motive arose spontaneously. Investigative teams continue to examine multiple sources and gather corroborating evidence to understand the events preceding the attack more fully.
The suspect, who has slept in holding facilities for a period, lacks a fixed address, and has occupied the streets for several years. This situation complicated efforts to locate him, but authorities have conducted targeted security checks in the affected neighborhoods as a precaution against potential further incidents.