Crime & Safety
Arrest Made in 2007 New Port Richey Murder
A gang member has been charged with second-degree murder.

New Port Richey Police officers say the unsolved murder of Valentine Bloods Gang member James Andre Paulin is no longer unsolved.
They arrested Ramon Perez Velez Friday in connection with the crime. Officers say Velez was the “Number One ranking Latin King of the New Port Richey set” at the time of Paulin’s murder.
The incident unfolded just before midnight Jan. 4, 2007, when shots were fired at 6632 Celeste Lane in New Port Richey. When officers arrived, they found Paulin had been shot in the back and killed. During the course of the investigation. Det. Sgt. Mike Anderson and patrol Cpl. Chris Mellecker found out the killing was a retaliation to a previous beating of a Latin Kings’ member by a Valentine Bloods member, an email to media from Det. Sgt. Arthur Madden said.
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“On the night of the incident, Ramon Perez Velez recruited and organized fellow
Latin King members to retaliate against the Valentine Bloods, specifically the victim James Andre Paulin,” Madden wrote.
The old case was dusted off about a year ago when leads started coming in from places as far away as New York City, he said. Based on the information gathered, a case was developed against Velez, 27.
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Velez was arrested Friday at his home in Spring Hill, and was charged with second-degree murder. The agency is making no further comments about the case or other possible suspects at this time.
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