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Jul 3, 2008 2:07 pm US/Central
Garland Police: 'Random Roadway' Gunman Confesses
Day After Arrest, Man Tells Police He Was Lone Shooter
Compiled From Staff Reports
GARLAND (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The 22-year-old man Garland Police arrested Tuesday night in connection with a string of random shootings in North Texas told police he was, in fact, the shooter.
Officer Joe Harn told CBS 11 that Thai-An Huu Nguyen confessed to police on Wednesday night while he was held at the Garland Jail.
When Nguyen was arrested Tuesday, it was believed he was responsible for a series of six shootings in Richardson, Garland, Plano and Mesquite since June 29.
Several witnesses provided a brief description of the man and the vehicle he drove, which helped police locate Nguyen about ½ mile from the location of the latest shooting Tuesday night.
Nguyen faces two counts of Aggravated Assault-Deadly Weapon, two counts of endangering a child and one deadly conduct – all in relation to the Garland incidents.
For the shootings in Richardson, one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon was filed against him. That charge carries a $150,000 bond.
Charges are still pending in Plano and also are expected from Mesquite.
The shootings started Sunday afternoon in Garland and expanded into Mesquite, Richardson and Plano.
Nguyen was spotted about 90 minutes after the shooting at Phao's Ca Doa Restaurant in Garland when police recognized his car.
A pistol was found inside the car believed to be the weapon used in the shootings.
Immigration Customs Enforcement has placed a detainer on Nguyen, which means if for some reason charges are dropped or he is released, he must be turned over to ICE immediately.
While Nguyen is in the United States legally, he violated his residence status.
In 2006 Nguyen was charged with armed robbery. He was on probation at the time of his arrest Wednesday.
The other shootings happened earlier Tuesday in Plano. According to authorities, a woman driving a maroon mini-van was heading west on the George Bush Turnpike about 7 p.m. when someone approached her between the Central Expressway and Custer Road, and according to Plano police, she saw a man point a gun out of the window of his car. She slammed on her brakes and was not hit by the bullet.
The woman exited the turnpike on Independence Parkway and called police. She told them the suspect's car continued heading west toward the Dallas North Tollway after the shooting.
Police said the turnpike shooting appeared to be connected to four other recent roadway shootings.
Miguel Miralrio of Garland was at a stop light at the intersection of Jupiter and Arapaho in Richardson about 5 p.m. Monday.
"A car turned onto Jupiter and someone started shooting. I don't know who he was shooting at, but my truck got hit," he explained. "I was very scared and so was my family. I don't have any problems with anybody."
The driver fired three shots into Miralrio's Ford Explorer before speeding away. All three bullets hit the door, and the impact shattered his window. Miralrio was not injured.
"I removed the bullet from the door that could have killed me," he said. "I wanted to cry when I saw the bullet."
Three other shootings were reported on Sunday in Garland and Mesquite.
"I feel sad for him. It seems like he doesn't have any feelings," Miralrio said. Thank God I didn't get hurt."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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