WASHINGTON - We have exclusive new details on the murder of a nine-year-old inside his own home. The uncle who allowed the suspected gunman into his home just after the shooting spoke with us about the high-profile case.

Police broke through the door of a Northwest house early Tuesday morning, raided it and detained the owner, Castillo Areniva. The man's 26-year-old nephew, Josue Pena, was arrested miles away in an abandoned Hyattsville storage room.

"He told me it was an accident and regrets it, but it's too late for regrets," said Areniva. "I told him 'that was just an innocent boy, why couldn't you see that?'"

Areniva was released but Pena has been charged with the murder of 9-year-old Oscar Fuentes. Just minutes after the fatal shooting in Columbia Heights Saturday night, Pena, a Salvadoran immigrant, stayed the night on his uncle's couch. The next morning before leaving for his carpentry job, police say he hid the weapon, a .22-caliber, long barreled revolver. Police found that gun under the uncle's mattress.

"When he was leaving he told me that he was going to put something away. I didn't see what it was," said Areniva. "Like I told the police, that was my mistake, not noticing what he left behind."

Police believe Pena was attempting to rob the Fuentes family as they returned from a baby shower that night. According to court documents, Pena threatened them by saying "your money or your life." The family ran into their apartment but a single bullet pierced the door and struck young Oscar in the back.

Areniva said, "It makes me feel a little uncomfortable knowing that somebody like that is living right close to me."

Pena denies trying to rob anyone and claims the gun went off accidentally while on his waist as he left the building.

Neighbor Angelo Staton said, "Just real shocked about it. It's good that police came and found the gun...Another killer off the streets."

Police say they have enough evidence to show Pena had the gun in his hand at the time of the shooting. Pena is due back in court Dec. 1.

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