Son of Former “Real Housewives” Star Faces Attempted Murder Charges

National tabloids and Internet media sources were able to generate salacious headlines after Joshua Waring, the son of a former reality TV star, was recently arrested and charged with attempted murder in California.

Joshua Waring is the 27-year-old son of Lauri Peterson, who used to appear on the hit reality television show “Real Housewives of Orange County,” one of the Bravo network’s successful run of reality shows that includes “Real Housewives of New Jersey.” Peterson was an original cast member of the popular “Orange County” version of the show, having appeared on the series from 2006 to 2009 and then returning briefly in 2013.

The shooting reportedly occurred during the late-night hours. According to law enforcement, Waring used a handgun during a violent incident at a residence in Costa Mesa, California. Waring and the victim were among a group of people at the house around 2:30 a.m. when Waring got into a verbal altercation with several individuals. At some point, Waring reportedly stepped away from the argument and left the premises. However, he allegedly returned to the house later with a firearm in his possession. That’s when he allegedly shot the victim, a 35-year-old male, in the torso.

Thankfully, the victim did not die as a result of his gunshot-related injuries. The other occupants of the home dialed 911 and alerted local law enforcement, which immediately dispatched police officers and emergency medical responders to the scene. The victim was rushed to Orange County Global Medical Center, a nearby hospital, where doctors treated him for his gunshot wound. A spokesperson for the Costa Mesa Fire Department later indicated that the victim is expected to survive the shooting.

While medical professionals were trying to save the shooting victim’s life, police officers were attempting to apprehend Waring. The shooting suspect allegedly stole a BMW SUV from outside the residence and led law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit throughout Costa Mesa. Several hours later, police officers were finally able to place Waring under arrest – but not until after he crashed his SUV in Santa Ana and allegedly tried to flee the car accident scene on foot. Following a brief standoff between Waring and police, the suspect surrendered to law enforcement.

At this time, Waring has been charged with the very serious criminal offenses of attempted murder, auto theft, assault and battery, felony evading police, and causing a hit-and-run accident. It is likely that he will face additional criminal charges in connection with the shooting, depending on the outcome of an ongoing investigation. At this time, investigators have not yet recovered the handgun that Waring allegedly used to shoot the victim.

While the charges against the suspect remain pending, Waring is being held in police custody at the Orange County Jail. He is being held at the correctional facility in lieu of a massive $1 million bail amount.

For further information about this case, read the Yahoo.com article, “Son of Former ‘Real Housewives of Orange County’ Star Lauri Peterson Suspected of Attempted Murder.”

If you or a loved one has been charged with murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault or any other violent crime in New Jersey, you are subject to severe penalties that could include a lengthy prison sentence. That’s why you need to talk to a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Contact John W. Tumelty now for a free consultation about your case.