Behind the Badge
Editor’s note: “Wanted Wednesday” spotlights a suspect wanted by the police. This week, we highlight a suspect sought in a three-year-old Garden Grove gang homicide.
His name: Benjamin Dinh Nguyen, 21 (DOB 8/6/93)
Description: Male Vietnamese, 5-feet-8 inches, 160 pounds, black hair, brown eyes
His alleged crime? Murder
Bail: $1 million
Last known address: 8852 Pacheco Ave., Westminster
Weapon: 9mm semi-automatic handgun (still outstanding)
Vehicle: Unknown
Frequents: Fountain Valley, Santa Ana and Garden Grove
Details of crime: Nguyen has been identified by police as the suspected shooter in a gang-related homicide that occurred March 20, 2011. Nguyen, a member of the Hellside Gang, was with fellow gang members as well as members of the Tiny Rascals Gang when the group confronted several members of the street gangs POV (Power of Vietnamese) and VT (Viet Together) at Phi Hoang Billiards, located at Harbor and Westminster Boulevards.
As the POV and VT gang members attempted to flee the area westbound on Westminster, a silver Lexus pulled alongside the victims’ vehicle and someone inside the Lexus fired several shots into it, killing Scottie Bui and wounding Roger James. Nguyen has not been seen since the shooting, according to his family. Several of his fellow gang members are facing trial on homicide charges in connection with the shooting.
Contact: Garden Grove PD homicide Det. Mike Reynolds at 714-741-5828 or Det. Mike Farley at 714-741-5877.
