Person of interest sought in fatal Los Alamitos shooting

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. (KABC) -- Los Alamitos police are seeking the public's help finding a person of interest in connection with the shooting death of a father of two.

Authorities identified 41-year-old Eleazar Vargas as a person of interest in the murder of 39-year-old Sangju Sung. Vargas is Sung's neighbor.

A motive for the fatal shooting has not been determined.

Sung was fatally shot at close range near Catalina and Pine streets at about 5:05 p.m. Sunday, police said.

Neighbor Susan Mason said she heard five quick shots.

"It was a semi-automatic and then a break, and then four more. He pumped five into Sung when he was standing, and then when Sung fell down, he put four more," Mason said.

According to neighbors, Vargas' wife also came outside.

"She saw a gentleman laying in the street, bleeding out so badly, she just went into hysterics," said neighbor Jim Pilkenton.

The Vargas' apartment is right next to the victim's. Speaking through a window, an unidentified woman at Vargas' place asked ABC7 to leave, or she would call the police.

Neighbors and church friends say Sung was a dedicated husband and father to his 3-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. He was also very involved at Sa-Rang Community Church in Anaheim.

Vargas was known by many neighbors for his aggressiveness. He has three children and has lived in the neighborhood for 10 years, neighbors said.

"He would come around the corner really fast and burn rubber, and he would come by at 5 o'clock in the morning with his radio blasting to where our windows would rattle," Mason said.

Friends said Sung had been having trouble with his neighbor and had just texted his wife that Vargas was causing problems again shortly before the gunfire erupted.

Los Alamitos police said Vargas was in the vicinity at the time of the shooting and is now missing.

"We've been unable to locate him or speak with him. The investigators would like to speak with him in regards to this incident," Capt. Sean Connolly said.

Los Alamitos police said they're not aware of any previous disturbance calls to Vargas' home.

Anyone with information about this deadly shooting was asked to contact the Los Alamitos Police Department at (562) 431-2255 ext. 426 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) 847-6227.