SPRINGFIELD — Two men are on life support in critical condition after a long-standing grudge reached a crescendo of gunfire at a Springfield house party, police reported Monday.
Diep Hoang Nguyen, 42, has been charged with attempted murder of the two men after allegedly shooting Kim Trahn Le, 40, in the head. The bullet passed through Le’s head and struck Ahn Van Nguyen, 44, in the face during a social gathering in Le’s home, 3726 E. Ninth St., at about 6:20 p.m. Sunday, according to Springfield Police reports.
Diep Nguyen surrendered without incident and admitted to attempting to shoot Le when interrogated, police reported. Diep Nguyen told police the shooting was the culmination of a long-standing disrespect of his family by Le. He did not go into details during police questioning, according to Springfield Police Chief Philip Thorne, but said his anger at Le had been building over several years.
--- READ THE INCIDENT REPORT ---
“He didn’t characterize the ‘disrespect,’ ” Thorne said, specifying that was the word chosen by Diep Nguyen. “He just said he felt Le had been disrespecting his family for some time.”
Diep Nguyen was at the social gathering when he left and said he was going home, according to arrest records. He returned a short time later, approached Le and shot him in the head.
Police were nearby working an unrelated case, and Diep Nguyen walked up to the officers and surrendered the firearm.
“Nothing negative occurred at the party prior to the shooting,” Thorne said. “He said the opportunity to shoot him in the head arose, so he took it.”
Thorne said both men were in critical condition Monday evening and on life support.
--- READ THE INCIDENT REPORT ---
Diep Nguyen initially was charged on one count of aggravated battery and attempted murder. His charges were upgraded to two counts of attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon before his first appearance Monday.
According to Bay County Clerk records, Diep Nguyen previously assaulted another man with a firearm in 1999 but did not intend to kill him. He pleaded no contest afterward to firing three shots intending to scare the man but none of the rounds were live.
Diep Nguyen’s combined bond was set at $135,000.