O.C. police officer cleared in shooting of man who stabbed a store clerk
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, Aug. 3. I’m Carol Cormaci, bringing you today’s TimesOC newsletter with the latest roundup of news and events.
An investigation following a bloody altercation inside a Costa Mesa 7-Eleven store last year that involved a police officer shooting at a knife-wielding suspect three times and hitting him twice, has been closed. It was a nonfatal incident, and the Orange County district attorney’s office has cleared Officer Eloísa Peralta of criminal action, according to a document issued late last week that was reported on by my colleague Sara Cardine.
Peralta encountered then-28-year-old Gabriel Tamayo Paniagua at 4:30 a.m. March 11, 2021 in the 7-Eleven at 2244 Fairview Road after being called to the scene on a report of a “fight in progress,” according to the report.
One of three first responders, Peralta started to approach the store with a taser, the report indicated, but switched to her Sig Sauer, model P320 semiautomatic handgun after a witness told her he saw blood inside the store.
“As Officer Peralta opened the door, she heard someone screaming for what she believed to be for help,” the report said. “When she looked behind the counter, she saw a man she did not recognize, covered in blood.”
Peralta reportedly gave seven verbal commands for Tamayo Paniagua, seen standing over the clerk with a knife, to drop his weapon. However, the suspect failed to comply and continued to kick the victim, stabbing him at least one time in front of her. She fired once but missed, striking a store window before firing two more times at Tamayo Paniagua, according to the report.
Investigators ultimately determined the officer “was justified in believing that Tamayo posed a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to herself and the victim … mainly based on the conduct of Tamayo leading up to the shooting,” according to the report.
Readers interested in delving more into the story can find the district attorney’s complete report, dated June 22 but released July 30, here, and a video of the encounter here.
MORE NEWS
— Prices on food and drink items at Disneyland have risen by as much as 12% over the last two years, according to a report by Hugo Martín, who says inflation is to blame. “A mint julep that sold for $4.99 in 2020 now costs $5.49. An Angus beef burger that sold for $14.49 two years ago is now priced at $15.49. A drink called the Tatooine Sunset climbed to $5.99 from $5.49 over the same period,” he reports.
— Spirit Airlines, which offers service at John Wayne Airport, made a failed attempt to merge with Frontier Airlines but will be purchased by JetBlue in a $3.8-billion deal, assuming it gets the blessings of regulators.
— The SR-55 Improvement Project, a $475-million effort to help shorten travel times in central Orange County, has officially begun, requiring the partial closure of lanes overnight and temporary and intermittent closures on freeway ramps in the project area. The work will add one regular lane and one carpool lane in each direction of the 55 Freeway near Santa Ana and Tustin and the 405 Freeway near Irvine and Costa Mesa. The project has a targeted completion date of 2026. To receive information on closures via text message, text “55FWYProject” to (877) 587-3065. For more information visit octa.net/SR55.
— Geico, which in May 2021 opened a new office in Laguna Niguel, is no longer offering in-person locations to purchase car and homeowners insurance in California, the company’s website shows. The Sacramento Bee reported the closures of the state’s 38 Geico locations Monday and quoted California Deputy Insurance Commissioner Michael Soller as saying his department is keeping an eye on the situation. “We are monitoring to make sure consumers are protected,” Soller said in a statement. The closures resulted in hundreds of layoffs, according to reports.
— The city of Laguna Beach is considering purchasing a 6.5-acre school site on Coast Highway for $23 million, generating excitement among residents who are calling the potential acquisition a “once in a generation” opportunity. The property is the former home of St. Catherine of Siena School, which closed its doors in 2019.
LIFE & LEISURE
— First place for the toys, dolls, games and novelty collections competition at the Orange County Fair this summer was given to Albert Roman for his fortune-telling novelties collection. My colleague Lilly Nguyen visited the Home Arts & Collection Gallery at the fair where she interviewed Roman, Mission Viejo resident Karen Dean, who is showing her collection of In-N-Out memorabilia and Leilani Smith of San Juan Capistrano, who captured the Most Zany award for her collection of figurines made out of seashells.
— Founded in 2013, Compassionate Creations in Newport Beach is one of just a few specialty wig businesses that will take hair directly from clients and donors and make a custom, hand-tied wig that replicates natural locks. Reporter Sara Cardine interviewed the owners and one very happy customer, Melanie Shaha, whose hair will not grow back after radiation treatment of a tumor on her pituitary gland. Shaha’s son, Matt, spent two pandemic years growing out his own hair, cut those tresses and gifted them to her to have a wig created, and that’s where Compassionate Creations came in. “It is the very kindest and most generous of gifts,” Shaha said of the process. “My health is not wonderful. I have issues that are difficult. But I’m living a happy life — Matt’s love and this wig — it’s a happy life.”
SPORTS
— Although fans were braced for it as the MLB trade deadline yesterday afternoon neared, the Angels decided not to trade standout Shohei Ohtani. The 28-year-old’s most recent contract was for two years and a total of $8.5 million. He becomes arbitration eligible again before next season. “I like the fans,” Ohtani said in Japanese at the end of last season. “I like the atmosphere in the organization. But my feelings to wanting to win are stronger.” The Halos did trade Noah Syndergaard, Raisel Iglesias and Brandon Marsh, however.
— Jordan Stevenson won the 55th annual Governor’s Cup international youth match racing championship in Newport Beach over the weekend. Stevenson, sailing for the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, won the championship series 3-1 over Jeffrey Petersen, who was the defending champion representing the host Balboa Yacht Club.
— “Mind Surfing: The Conner Coffin Story” is a new documentary film about the Central California surfer produced by 805 Beer. It premieres this week at the U.S. Open, with a private premiere party in Huntington Beach tonight before the film drops on YouTube on Friday. The 18-minute film has a trailer available online, in case you’d like a preview.
CALENDAR THIS
— Gem Faire (billed as the “Largest Jewelry & Bead Show in SoCal”) returns to the Orange County Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, Aug. 26 through 28. The event is open to the public. More than 100 exhibitors will display their jewelry, crystals, gemstones, beads, minerals, fossils and jewelry-making tools and supplies during the event. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission of $7 is valid for the entire weekend. Jewelry repair, cleaning and ring sizing service will be available.
For more information, visit gemfaire.com.
— Laguna Art Museum’s exhibit “Black and White: Contemporary Art from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation” features 30 artworks informed or inspired by the interplay of the colors black and white and is on view through Oct. 9. The museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach. Closed Wednesdays. For more information call (949) 494-8971 or visit lagunaartmuseum.org.
KEEP IN TOUCH
If you have a memory or story about Orange County, I would love to read and share it in this space (please keep your submission to 100 words or less).
I’d appreciate your help in making this the best newsletter it can be. Please send news tips, your memory of life in O.C., or comments to carol.cormaci@latimes.com.
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