Fatal OC Shooting Suspect Awaiting Arraignment, Victim’s ID Still Withheld

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A 30-year-old parolee with a lengthy criminal history was charged Thursday with fatally shooting an acquaintance at a park in Orange.

Pedro Ignacio Amarillas Lares was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a gun by a felon, with a sentencing enhancement for discharge of a gun causing death.

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Just before 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, a fatal shooting occurred at Hart Park, according to the Orange Police Department.

Arriving officers found the as-yet-unidentified victim dead in the west portion of the park. The man's name has been withheld as authorities work to notify his family.

According to the Orange Police Department's news release, Amarillas Lares was on parole for possession of a loaded gun and a controlled substance, police said. He was arrested after being seen running from the area with a handgun.

Officials say that the suspect and the victim knew each other and characterized the shooting as an "isolated incident."

Amarillas Lares has a current case for misdemeanor possession of fentanyl, according to court records.

He pleaded guilty Jan. 25, 2024, to assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury. He was sentenced to two years in prison.

Amarillas Lares was sentenced to 90 days in jail after his release when he failed to report to his parole officer, according to court records. As authorities were looking for him, the suspect's father told investigators that his son was addicted to fentanyl and that he feared an overdose, according to a parole violation petition.

Amarillas Lares pleaded guilty Oct. 20, 2021, to felony counts of robbery and grand theft as well as misdemeanor counts of possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

He pleaded guilty July 28, 2022, to burglary and identity theft for breaking into cars, according to court records.

He also pleaded guilty Jan. 3, 2024, to possession of drugs while armed with a gun, possession of a gun and ammunition by a felon, carrying a loaded unregistered gun in public, and a convicted felon carrying a concealed gun in a vehicle.