Man, 75, dies after vicious attack in Kenilworth Park

WASHINGTON - A 75-year-old man who was viciously attacked in Kenilworth Park nearly two weeks ago died on Friday, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Leoncio Loza was found severely wounded on a bike trail in the park just off Anacostia Avenue in Northeast.
At 2:35 p.m. in the afternoon of March 21, 911 received a call for a man suffering from a stab wound on a trail near the Aquatic Gardens.

The first firefighters on the scene assessing Loza's condition knew he needed help fast. He was transferred to the hospital by helicopter and admitted to the hospital in critical, but stable condition, according to officials. On Friday March 31, Loza died, the manner of death was ruled a homicide, and the motive is still unclear.

Loza is an immigrant from El Salvador who came to the United States in 1981 and lived in a house on Meade Street in Northeast with his daughter.

On Tuesday afternoon Fox 5 spoke with Loza's daughter, she says police aren't sure what happened to her father, but that he would often go to the park and he always felt safe. The Catholic Church where Loza would often attend services says he was on the way to church in Northwest when he was attacked.

Another elderly Hispanic man was attacked on the same trail as Loza, just four hours later. A Park Police spokesperson says it was an attempted robbery and that victim was treated and released the same day.

U.S. Park Police is investigating one of the cases and D.C. Homicide is investigating the second case.

No arrests have been made.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department's TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.