BREAKING NEWS: Suspect in Haggins killing arrested

Luis Mario Rivera Jr., 20, of Orlando, has been arrested in connection with the murder of Bruce “B.J.” Haggins Jr., 16, of Winter Garden, said Capt. Jason Pearson, of the Winter Garden Police Department.

“He was taken into custody after being located hiding in the basement of a home in New Britain, Connecticut, where he was assisted by extended family and friends in his attempt to elude capture,” Pearson said.

Assisting in the apprehension were members of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Marshalls, the Connecticut State Police and the New Britain Police Department.

Rivera was returned to Orange County late Tuesday, June 25, and booked into the Orange County Jail with a no-bond status, Pearson said.

Rivera Jr. has been charged with second-degree murder and several counts of tampering with physical evidence, Pearson said. The investigation is ongoing.

Haggins was shot and kidnapped Friday, May 31, near Lincoln Terrace and 11th Street in Winter Garden. An AMBER Alert went into effect that same day and remained active until Haggins’ body was discovered buried in a shallow grave in east Orange County on Friday, June 7.

Luis Rivera Sr., 49, was arrested later that day on multiple charges relating to the abduction and killing, including disposing the body and several counts of tampering with evidence.