Murder suspect captured in Norwalk

NORWALK – A 36-year-old transient was charged Tuesday with gunning down another man in Anaheim.

Paul Perez was charged with murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, both felonies, and is facing sentencing enhancements for discharge of a firearm causing death and the personal use of a firearm.

Perez is accused of killing 35-year-old Juan Leon, according to Sgt. Jon McClintock of the Anaheim Police Department.

Police were called to Western and Lincoln avenues at about 4:40 p.m. last Wednesday and found the victim in the 3200 block of West Cabot Drive, McClintock said. Leon was taken to a hospital where he later died, the sergeant added.

Perez was arrested in Norwalk on Saturday, McClintock said.

Police were still investigating what relationship, if any, the two had and what may have motivated the shooting. Perez has a lengthy criminal history of drug cases, according to court records.

He pleaded guilty in January to possession of a controlled substance while armed with a gun, carrying a loaded unregistered gun in public, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell and sale or transport of a controlled substance, according to court records.

Perez pleaded guilty in December 2018 to possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell. He pleaded guilty in July 2018 to felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He pleaded guilty in May 2021 to misdemeanor counts of a prohibited person owning ammunition, trespass by a squatter, vandalism, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.