CASE OF INTEREST

September 27, 2001

People v. Viet Kim Le
Contact: Tim Frawley
Homicide Unit, (916) 874-4631

District Attorney Jan Scully announced today that a jury convicted Viet Kim Le of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Melinda Vo on June 18, 1997. The jury also found Le guilty of attempted murder of Thanh La; additionally, that a firearm was used in the commission of the offenses, and that a special circumstance allegation (first degree murder by intentional discharge of a firearm from a motor vehicle) was true.

Le, age 24, was the driver of a car which chased a car driven by 18 year old Melinda Vo for more than 20 miles around 1 a.m. along I-5, beginning near Hammer Lane in Stockton and ending a mile past Twin Cities Road in Sacramento. According to Thanh La, a passenger in Vo’s car, Le drove up behind them on Kelly Drive in Stockton. La said there were two other people in Le’s car that he did not recognize. Fearing violence, Vo and La drove onto I-5 and attempted to elude Le at speeds witnesses estimated to be 90-100 mph.

The shooting occurred when Le drove alongside the passenger side of Vo and La’s car, and at least 9 gunshots from two different guns were fired. Both cars went out of control. Le’s car drove off the freeway, through a fence, then back through the fence and back onto the freeway. I-5 was closed for several hours during the investigation. Le remained a fugitive until April 3, 2001 when he surrendered on an arrest warrant.

The passengers in Le’s car, presumed to be the shooters, have not been identified. Evidence in the case indicated the shooting might have stemmed from a gang rivalry.

Sentencing is scheduled before the trial judge, Greta Crossland, in Department 10 on October 26, 2001.

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