A 17-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a man found at a playground in Alexandria, Virginia.
The teen was charged with the murder of 24-year-old Jose Luis Ferman Perez Wednesday. Police are withholding the suspect's name because of his age. Police say two other suspects are in custody in connection with Perez's death, but they have not been charged.
A woman walking her dog found Perez's body in popular Beverley Park on Nov. 9, 2015. The body was found under the bouncing bridge part of the playground equipment, near a slide.
The park, known as "The Pit" for its sunken layout, is one of the busiest playgrounds in the area, full of toddlers during the day — but there has been gang violence in the adjacent neighborhood in the past year. Police have not said whether Perez's death is related.
“This heinous crime shocked the community and made many people worry for their safety and the safety of their children,” said Police Chief Earl Cook.
Perez's death was the third homicide in Alexandria in 2015.
