Buena Park Man Held in Slaying of Youth, 16

A Buena Park man was arrested Wednesday in the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old alleged gang member. The man’s 19-year-old son was also arrested, but Buena Park police said he was released late Wednesday.

Pedro Lopez Contreras Sr., 42, and Pedro Lopez Contreras Jr., 19, were arrested about 9 a.m. in the slaying of Raymond Lacaro Casarez of Fullerton on Tuesday night in Buena Park, police spokesman Richard McMillen said.

Police declined to discuss details about the release of the son, but police Detective John Burns said the department will ask the district attorney’s office to file a murder charge against the father.

“We don’t believe the father and son to be gang members,” Burns added.

According to police, Lacaro Casarez was shot once in the head with a small-caliber handgun in front of a row of businesses and workshops in the 8600 block of Roland Street about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“There was a confrontation between the two parties,” Burns said. “Who initiated it, we don’t know yet. . . . It appeared to be a one-time confrontation.”

He declined to reveal the reason for the dispute but said a handgun was recovered at the scene.

Burns said the incident did not appear to be related to drugs.