Death penalty sentence for murderer who was a Vietnamese criminal street gang member upheld

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 95WF0682

MEDIA ADVISORY: August 13, 2015

WHO: Supreme Court of California

WHAT: Affirmed the death penalty sentence of Lam Thanh Nguyen who was found guilty by a jury on July 6, 1998, of two felony counts of murder with special circumstances for committing multiple murders, two felony counts of attempted murder, three felony counts of street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury, using a firearm in the commission of murder and attempted murder, and vicariously armed with a firearm in committing an attempted murder.

In 1994 and 1995, Nguyen was a member of a Vietnamese criminal street gang and was involved in several shootings and violent crimes against a rival Vietnamese criminal street gang. On July 21, 1994, Nguyen was involved in a drive-by shooting where a rival gang member was shot, paralyzing him from the neck down.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24 1994, Nguyen chased down another rival gang member into a Garden Grove arcade and shot him multiple times, leaving him partially paralyzed.

On Feb. 5, 1995, Nguyen shot and murdered a rival gang member who was outside a restaurant in Westminster.

At approximately 9:30 p.m., on March 11, 1995, Nguyen and other gang members fired several shots at rival gang members outside a pool hall in Stanton. Nguyen shot a rival gang member seven times, who survived his injuries.

At approximately 9:00 p.m., on May 6, 1995, Nguyen murdered a rival gang member on a street in Garden Grove by shooting him twice in the back and once in the head.

This case was originally prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Robin Park.

WHEN: Today, Aug. 13, 2015

WHERE: To read the court’s opinion, please visit www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S076340.PDF or www.orangecountyda.org and select, “The People v. Lam Thanh Nguyen – Supreme Court of California affirms death penalty,” in Reports under the Reports pull-down menu.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718