City man facing murder charges
Suspect, victim argued about drug money prior to slaying
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The killing of a Hollidaysburg man might have been the result of a drug deal gone bad, the Altoona Police Department reported.
Andrew Ozio, 29, died Monday night, laying in a pool of blood with three gunshot wounds -- one each in his neck, chest and head, Altoona police reported.
A lead pipe and three .40 caliber casings were found near his body in an alley on the 100 block of East Crawford Ave., police reported.
Vasilios Pentsas Jr., 34, of Altoona, was arrested shortly after police found Ozio's body, but charges didn't immediately follow the arrest.
Pentsas was apprehended near his mother's house with the help of Logan Township police and he waived his rights before being interviewed, police said.
Pentsas told police he thought he might get arrested because he was arguing with Ozio throughout the day, then drove by the crime scene later and saw all the police, court documents stated.
Pentsas allegedly told police that the two were arguing because Pentsas agreed to purchase marijuana from Ozio for about $440, but after receiving the drugs, Pentsas changed his mind and wanted to return the marijuana, police said.
At some point during the day, one of Pentsas' friends was assaulted with a lead pipe, which Pentsas said he believed was done by Ozio because of the debt, a criminal complaint said.
Pentsas ended the initial police interview without providing further details about Ozio's death, police reported.
Police interviewed witnesses and people of interest, piecing together the events leading to Ozio's death, and, after questioning, Penstas led police to the .40 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number, court documents state.
One witness, a relative of Ozio, told police she saw Pentsas fleeing the scene behind her residence shortly after she heard gunshots about 11 p.m., police reported.
A second witness also heard the gunshots and went outside when he heard the woman screaming. He saw Ozio laying on the ground, struggling to breathe, as a tall, skinny male with curly hair ran to a dark-colored, hatchback-style car and fled, police reported.
Ozio was at the residence caring for someone who is physically handicapped when the incident occured, police said. Ozio told the person he was caring for that he and Pentsas were "beefing," but the person said he didn't know why, according to court documents.
The two witnesses, who also care for the disabled man, were around Ozio for several hours before the incident, and told police Ozio was upset about an ongoing argument with Pentsas, police reported.
The female witness said Ozio told her Pentsas owed him money, but the second witness said he didn't know what Ozio's argument was about, the criminal complaint stated.
Pentsas' paramour told police she was at Pentsas' mother's house earlier Monday when two men came looking for Pentsas and found a friend of his working on a vehicle in the garage, police reported. After they discovered that Pentsas was not there, the men hit his friend in the head with a lead pipe and left, the woman told police.
About 10:30 p.m., Pentsas and his friend left her residence, reportedly to drop off Pentsas' friend, the paramour told police.
Police again questioned Pentsas, who agreed to lead them to the handgun allegedly used in Ozio's murder, court documents stated.
When police arrived at the specified location, Pentsas' friend was standing in the yard near a black backpack containing the firearm, police reported.
Pentsas told police he was driving his mother's hatchback-style Suzuki at the time of the homicide, according to court documents.
Police charged Pentsas with first-degree and third-degree murder, aggravated assault and several crimes relating to harassment and firearm possession.
Magisterial District Judge Daniel DeAntonio denied Pentsas' bail during an arraignment Tuesday, and Pentsas is housed at the Blair County Prison.
Pentsas' preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18.
Mirror Staff Writer Ike Fredregill is at 814-946-7458.