| For Immediate Release Case # 10CF0341
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
NAVY DESERTER CHARGED WITH SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING A WOMAN AND INJURING HER BOYFRIEND WHILE PRETENDING TO BUY THEIR CAR
WESTMINSTER– The Orange County District Attorney charged an unemployed navy deserter today with special circumstances murder for shooting and killing a woman and critically injuring her boyfriend after posing as a potential buyer for a car the victims listed for sale and fleeing to Las Vegas. Pasqual Raul Loera, 32, Redlands, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder and one felony count of attempted murder. The special circumstances include murder during the commission of robbery and burglary. Loera is being held in Las Vegas and waiting to be extradited to Orange County to face the charges.
On Feb. 14, 2010, Loera is accused of going to the Westminster home of the victims, Julie Palasko and Dennis Koire, to potentially buy an Infiniti sedan, a car the couple had listed for sale. After entering the victims’ home, the defendant is accused of shooting the victims, murdering 48-year-old Palasko, and critically injuring 49-year-old Koire. Loera is accused of stealing the car the victims were selling and fleeing the scene.
Later that day, the Loera is accused of entering a casino and acting in a way that garnered attention from the casino’s security. The defendant is accused of attempting to flee from casino security in the Infiniti sedan and crashing it into a ditch. The Las Vegas Police (LVP) arrested the defendant and found that the vehicle was registered in Westminster to the victims. LVP contacted the Westminster Police Department (WPD) who went to the address the vehicle was registered and found Palasko dead. Kiore was transported to the hospital where he remains in critical condition.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Ed Berakovich at (714) 347-8492 and/or WPD Detective Alan Aoki at (714) 548-3733.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Sonia Balleste of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.
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