Tough Friends, Not Impressed by a Killing, Turn In Suspect

Police say Kent Anguiano was trying to impress his tough new friends when he shot a man on the sidewalk nearly eight years ago.

But the killing “rubbed them the wrong way,” said Police Lt. Ron Smith. Bothered by their consciences, they turned him in. The former Costa Mesa man, arrested in South Dakota, was charged this week with murder.

Luis Antonio Lopez, 25, was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the head on Jan. 16, 1990. He had just left Johanna’s Bar at 19th Street and Placentia Avenue and appeared to be walking to another bar to shoot pool when he was shot, Smith said.

“He’s a poor guy who just went to play pool,” Smith said. “He didn’t drink that much, he didn’t even know that many people there.”

Lopez’s money, jewelry and pool cue were still with the body, so to police, the motive did not appear to be robbery, Smith said.

According to people who know Anguiano, 38, he killed Lopez to impress the blue-collar workers and bikers he hung out with at the bar, Smith said.

“He walks up to Luis, shoots him once and walks away, for no reason other than to impress the people at the bar,” Smith said. “He wants to show he’s worthy, that he can run with them.”

Anguiano left Costa Mesa for Arizona, then moved to South Dakota, police said.

He was picked up as he left his Spearfish home to do his laundry Nov. 17, Smith said. He’s fighting extradition, and is being held without bail at the Lawrence County, S.D., Jail.

The Orange County District Attorney’s office filed a first-degree murder charge against him Monday, Smith said.