Eleazar Vargas Charged in Absentia for Murder of LosAl Neighbor Out for Smoke Sangju Sung

UPDATE, OCT. 30, 2:53 P.M.: Expect Tobacco Free California to jump all over this as proof cigarette smoking will kill you: An Orange County District Attorney's office prosecutor says 39-year-old Sangju Sung was out for a smoke Sunday when he was gunned down by a neighbor in Los Alamitos. Court records show Eleazar Vargas, 41, has gone from “person of interest” to being charged with Sung's murder as well as a sentence-enhancing allegation for the personal discharge of a gun causing death. Problem is he's believed to have fled to Mexico, says Senior Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino. Of Sung, Pino adds, “He just went outside to smoke a cigarette and then texted his wife that the defendant was out there staring at him. The defendant is known in the neighborhood as a bully of sorts.”

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ORIGINAL POST, OCT. 26, 11:18 A.M.: Los Alamitos Police this morning are seeking a resident for questioning in the fatal shooting of his neighbor, who was having problems with a man on his street described as “a ticking time bomb.”

Police Capt. Rick Moore called Eleazar Vargas, 41, a “person of interest” in the slaying of 39-year-old Sangju Sung, a married, father of two who had been having trouble with an aggressive neighbor before he was found dead on his street from gunshot wounds just after 5 p.m. Sunday.

Neighbors say Sung texted his wife shortly before gunfire was heard in the area of Pine and Catalina streets to say he was having a problem with the neighbor again.

Vargas is believed to be that neighbor although police have not confirmed that, citing the ongoing investigation.

The neighbor Sung had problems with “was very unstable,” another resident of the street reportedly said.

“He's a ticking time bomb,” Jim Pilkenton told KABC7. “I feel so bad.”

LosAl Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting or Vargas' whereabouts to call them at 562.431.2255 ext. 426. Anonymous tips can be left with Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855.847.6227 (855-TIP-OCCS), via occrimestoppers.org or by texting to 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) from a cell phone. (All text messages should begin with the letters “OCCS”.)

Email: mc****@oc******.com. Twitter: @MatthewTCoker. Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook!

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