Post by Scumhunter on Jan 22, 2017 1:12:16 GMT -5
From the Orange County Register website (ocregister.com)
Neighbors: Person of interest wanted in Los Alamitos killing lived next to man shot in street and known for threatening residents with gun
LOS ALAMITOS – Residents of a working-class neighborhood on the county border said they were terrified Monday morning after a resident was fatally shot in the street the night before and a neighbor wanted for questioning was still at large.
Los Alamitos Police Department officials wouldn’t identify the victim Monday, pending notification of his family. Neighbor Jim Pilkenton said the man’s last name was Sung, though he didn’t know the first name, and that he lived in an apartment behind Pilkenton’s house. Whitepages.com lists Sangju Sung as a resident in that same apartment building.
Police said neighbor Eleazar Vargas, 41, who lived in an apartment next to the dead man, was being sought as a person of interest and had not been located by officials by Monday afternoon.
“He’s been identified as being in the vicinity at the time,” Los Alamitos police Capt. Sean Connolly said.
The incident began about 5 p.m. Sunday when Susan Mason, 62, said she was in her apartment in the 3600 block of Catalina Street and heard five gunshots before a pause and then a rapid succession of four more.
Mason ran outside as she was calling 911 and saw her neighbor injured.
“He was laying in the street and there was blood everywhere,” Mason said.
She said a neighbor was trying to help the man, who was in his late 30s, and screamed, “Oh God, no, no.”
Two Los Alamitos Police Department patrol cars showed up moments later, one staying near the man in the street, while the other quickly drove off, Mason said.
Orange County Fire Authority was dispatched at 5:08 p.m., and when they arrived found the wounded man.
“Firefighter paramedics quickly cut his shirt off and hooked him up to a cardiac monitor,” OCFA Capt. Steve Concialdi said. “There was nothing more they could do and declared him dead on the scene.”
The shooting occurred near the Los Angeles County line in a quiet, working class neighborhood dotted with small apartments and single family homes.
Pilkenton, a 67-year-old Vietnam veteran, said he ran out of his home to help the man he called “the nicest guy you would ever want as a neighbor.”
“I knew he was no longer with us,” Pilkenton said, adding the man is married and has a 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. “I prayed over him and both families.”
“I’ve seen hundreds of people shot and killed, and it’s still sad when it happens,” he said.
Pilkenton said he didn’t know if the victim’s children were home at the time of the shooting.
Police were in the neighborhood for more than 12 hours and did not say what caused the shooting.
Mason and Pilkenton said Vargas, who moved into the neighborhood about 8 months ago, is an unruly and aggressive neighbor.
Mason said a few weeks ago he threatened a neighbor in her apartment complex with a gun.
He also has shot a handgun into the air from his patio, according to Pilkenton.
Mason and other neighbors were scared Monday afternoon while Vargas remained out of police custody, she said.
No one else was injured in the incident on Sunday.
“Obviously, this is a significant event in our town, it’s not a normal occurrence,” Connolly said. “The detectives are working what leads they can.”
Flowers and candles served as a memorial Monday near the stained asphalt where the man died.
Anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or has information about Vargas’ whereabouts has been asked to contact the Los Alamitos Police Department at 562-431-2255 ext. 426. Information can also be provided anonymously through the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
m.ocregister.com/articles/police-689153-alamitos-street.html
Thoughts? A few updates is that the neighbor who died was confirmed to be 39-year old Sangju Sung and Vargas is now officially charged with his murder m.ocregister.com/articles/sung-690017-shooting-alamitos.html
Also, Orange County warrants search confirms Vargas to still be at large as of 1/22/2017: ws.ocsd.org/ArrestWarrants/default.aspx
As far as motive, I've found a few articles that basically as sort of noted in the one I posted where Vargas is alleged to be a neighborhood bully and loose cannon who has had words with Sanju and other neighbors. Someone like that is obviously extremely dangerous because there is unfortunately increased potential for him to strike again.
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