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Multiple Shootings will be Filed as Hate Crimes
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Last week Garland Police arrested 22 year old Thai-An Huu Nguyen for the Aggravated Assaults where for three days, June 29 – July 1, he was shooting at cars stopped at red lights, traveling on highways and finally shooting at a restaurant. The shootings took place in Garland, Mesquite, Richardson and Plano. During those three days several people were injured resulting in 3 counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon being filed, two by Garland Police and one by Richardson Police.
During an interview with Nguyen by Garland and Richardson Detectives the next day after his arrest he admitted to the shootings over the three day period. During that interview he also told detectives he was targeting two groups of people, Asians and Hispanics. His reasoning for targeting the two groups was that he had been involved in two separate altercations, one involving Asians and the other Hispanics, several months prior and he was getting back at them. Not all of Nguyen’s victims were Hispanic or Asian but it’s the detective’s believe that was Nguyen’s perception when he was shooting at them.
Since that interview detectives have been in contact with the Dallas District Attorney’s Office and these offenses are going to handled as Hate Crimes. Authority for these being filed as Hate Crimes comes from Texas Penal Code 12.47 and Code of Criminal Procedure 42.014. By filing these cases as Hate Crimes the punishment will enhance from 2nd Degree to 1st Degree felony level for punishment.
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