Popular Slideshows On CBS11TV.COM
Jul 8, 2008 6:47 pm US/Central
Random Shooting Suspect Facing Hate Crime Charges
GARLAND (AP) ―
-
-
Thai-An Huu Nguyen of Garland was arrested on July 1, 2008 in Garland -- just 1/2 mile from a restaurant where officials say was the latest scene in a series of apparent random shootings.
City of Garland
Charges against a man accused of shooting at random motorists over three days in the Dallas suburbs will be filed as hate crimes, authorities said Tuesday.
Thai-An Huu Nguyen faces three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon -- two from Garland and one from Richardson. Nguyen, 22, of Garland, also was charged with deadly conduct by discharging a firearm.
Several people were injured in the shootings, which happened from June 29 to July 1 in the suburbs of Garland, Mesquite, Richardson and Plano. The majority of the shootings involved cars stopped at red lights or traveling on highways. Police said one of the shootings occurred outside a restaurant, police said.
Garland police say Nguyen told detectives the day after his arrest that he was targeting Asians and Hispanics. During an interview with detectives from Richardson and Garland, Nguyen said he had been involved in two altercations months before involving both ethnic groups and wanted to get back at them.
Although not all of those shot were Hispanic or Asian, detectives think he perceived the shooting victims were, Garland police said.
Filing the cases as hate crimes increases the charge to a first-degree felony and enhances the punishment.
Nguyen was being held in Dallas County jail in lieu of a $600,000 bond. A search of Dallas County records did not show an attorney for Nguyen.
His family declined to comment about the charges on Tuesday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed a hold on Nguyen. The native of Vietnam is in the U.S. legally, but is accused of crimes that make him deportable, said ICE spokesman Carl Rusnok.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Recent Celebrity Deaths
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
