Suspect in Killing of Man at Hotel Turns Himself In

A gunman suspected of killing a 35-year-old Bellflower man and wounding his girlfriend at an Artesia hotel turned himself in Monday.

Ernesto Tancioco, 69, who lived at the hotel, shot Ron Salazar several times in the hotel’s underground parking lot about 5 p.m. Sunday after an argument between the two men, said Sheriff’s Deputy Benita Nichol.

Police evacuated the Ramada Inn on South Pioneer Boulevard Sunday night when they suspected Tancioco had barricaded himself inside a room. But when a special weapons team searched the hotel at 1:20 a.m., the suspect was gone, authorities said.

According to Nichol, Salazar had repaired Tancioco’s vehicle and had visited the parking lot Sunday to pick up some tools. Tancioco, unhappy with the repair work, allegedly opened fire on Salazar.

Tancioco then allegedly shot Salazar’s girlfriend, Angelica Walung, 44, of Artesia, when she drove out of the parking lot to summon help. She was treated at a hospital and released.

Tancioco, carrying the alleged murder weapon, turned himself into authorities at a sheriff’s station in the City of Industry about 12:30 p.m., Nichol said. He is being held without bail.