An Atlanta man is facing multiple charges following the tragic death of 16-year-old Angelina Vargas-Lagunes, who was found unresponsive in a Doraville apartment. As reported by Atlanta News First, 19-year-old Pedro Jose Zalazar-Chilel has been arrested and charged with malice murder, concealing a death, illicit transactions involving a minor, among several drug charges. While some charges, including statutory rape and buying alcohol for a minor, have been dropped, the investigation remains active with a toxicology report pending.
The Doraville Police Department responded to a call from the Rowen Apartment Homes on April 5. The caller, who discovered Vargas-Lagunes lifeless on her couch after returning from a walk, immediately dialed 911. Law enforcement identified two white tablets at the scene, later determined to be Percocet, according to the arrest warrant obtained by Atlanta News First. Zalazar-Chilel has admitted to doing methamphetamine with Vargas-Lagunes and to providing her with money and transportation to buy drugs.
On a poignant note, friends and family gathered for a balloon release at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody, a vigil reported by FOX 5 to honor the memory of Angelina Vargas-Lagunes. Pink and red balloons soared into the sky, reflective of Vargas-Lagunes' favorite colors. "She was such a sweet girl," Yuditza Palacios, the organizer of the event and a childhood friend, told Atlanta News First, encapsulating the emotional gravity of the gathering.
The sorrow of Vargas-Lagunes' sudden passing was palpable through the words of Katrina Kalani, one of her close friends. "This place... it was really, really hard for me to be here," Kalani confessed in an emotional interview with FOX 5. Kalani expressed deep regret for the distance that grew between her and Vargas-Lagunes during a difficult personal period, emphasizing the significance of reaching out to those we cherish: "For everybody who’s grieving right now or going through stuff — just reach out," she said.
In the wake of this tragedy, Angelina's mother, Remedios Lagunes, has made a heartfelt plea for justice. "She wants justice, she wants the criminals to pay for what they did," Angelina’s sister, Isabelle, relayed on behalf of their mother to Atlanta News First. The family's pain, coupled with the outpouring of love from the community, underscores the enduring impact of the young teen’s life and the hope that justice will bring some measure of peace.
