Published: April 20, 2011
Updated: 5:48 p.m.

Police: 10 arrested during gang raid tied to fatal shooting

By SEAN EMERY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

GARDEN GROVE – Police arrested 10 gang suspects Wednesday morning while carrying out search warrants tied to a fatal Garden Grove shooting, also finding drugs, guns and $70,000 in cash during the search of more than a dozen locations in Orange and Los Angeles counties, authorities said.

The large-scale police raid targeted members of two Asian criminal street gangs believed to be involved in the killing of 19-year-old Scottie Bui, who died from injuries sustained in an early morning shooting March 20 near Harbor Boulevard and Westminster Avenue, Garden Grove Police Lt. Jeff Nightengale said.

Homicide search warrants targeting a pair of Asian street gangs turned up a dozen firearms, 3,000 ecstasy pills and $70,000 in cash. Police arrested ten people during the raids, including 7 suspected of being involved with a fatal shooting and 3 on unrelated gun and drug charges.

SEAN EMERY, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Police have not outlined what led to the confrontation, which appears to have involved members of at least three gangs. A juvenile also shot during the incident survived his injuries.

No drugs or guns were found at the scene, Nightengale said. Authorities believe the confrontation began in a nearby parking lot before spilling out into the street, where the actual shootings took place.

Three juveniles were arrested on suspicion of homicide in the days after the shooting, Nightengale said. Citing their ages, police declined to identify them.

At 7 a.m. Wednesday morning, more than 140 officers from 10 Orange County law enforcement agencies joined Garden Grove investigators in carrying out search warrants at 14 different locations in Orange and Los Angeles counties.

During the search, Dung Tin Nguyen, 18, of Santa Ana; Duy Kim, 19, of Fountain Valley; Alex Tran, 21, of Garden Grove; Elvis Doan, 18, of Santa Ana; and Aaron Nguyen, 26, of Santa Ana and two juveniles were arrested on suspicion of homicide.

Police also arrested three other juveniles on unrelated weapons and drugs charges after authorities found more than 3,000 Ecstasy pills, 12 firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun, and $70,000 in cash.

"It's not uncommon for gangs to be involved in drug and gun sales," Nightengale said.

Authorities have issued a $1 million arrest warrant for Benjamin Dinh Nguyen, 17, who is also wanted on suspicion of homicide. Police described Nguyen as a 17-year-old Asian male, about 5-feet-8-inches tall, 160 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

"To this point, we have been unable to locate him, so we are asking for the public's help," Nightengale said.

Police have not identified which of the 10 men arrested and one sought in connection with the confrontation is suspected to have shot Bui or the second victim.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about Nguyen's location to call the Garden Grove Police Department at 714-741-5704.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7939 or semery@ocregister.com

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