Ho Chi Minh City Police have detained Vaa Vaa, born in 1999 and a Samoan national, who allegedly carried out the shooting, along with alleged accomplice Tafia Steve, born in 2003 and also from Samoa, on suspicion of murder.
Vaa Vaa at the HCM City Police headquarters (Photo: VTV).
Speaking at a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on May 26, Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City Police, said both suspects confessed they committed the crime following orders from another foreign national based overseas.
Tafia Steve (Photo: VTV).
According to investigators, the pair entered Ho Chi Minh City through Tan Son Nhat International Airport on May 14.
After identifying their targets, the suspects allegedly monitored the movements and routines of the two victims before carrying out the attack on the evening of May 21.
Police said the victims and their friends had just finished dining at Cee’f Restaurant on Truong Dinh Street in Ben Thanh Ward when the gunmen opened fire as the group stood on the pavement.
Lemalu Lorenzo Tovia, born in 2001 and an Australian national, was shot twice and died at the scene. Sauni Sam, born in 1999 and also an Australian national, was shot once and remains in critical condition in hospital.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hung personally directed the operation to arrest the suspects (Photo: Thuan Thien).
Hung said that immediately after receiving reports of the shooting, Ho Chi Minh City Police ordered criminal investigators and specialised units to secure the scene, assist victims, collect evidence and coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to track down the suspects.
Using investigative measures, police determined the suspects fled to an apartment building in the former District 9 area to collect belongings before escaping towards Tay Ninh Province and crossing into Cambodia.
“The suspects were professional, dangerous, used military-grade weapons and were prepared to resist arrest, but our units quickly captured and escorted them back to Ho Chi Minh City for investigation,” Hung said.
Vaa Vaa, identified as the alleged gunman, told investigators he recognised his actions were wrong and expressed remorse.
“Vietnamese police have treated me well and ensured I have food and good health conditions,” he said.
Tafia Steve reportedly told police he had been hired to travel to Vietnam to kill the two victims. Despite planning carefully to flee the country immediately after the attack, he said he was unable to evade Vietnamese authorities.
“I accept responsibility before the law and advise anyone thinking about coming to Vietnam to commit crimes to abandon the idea because Vietnamese police will definitely arrest you,” he said.
Authorities also announced the emergency detention of Nguyen Trong Nghia, 24, from Tay Ninh Province, who worked in passenger transport services between Ho Chi Minh City and Tay Ninh, along with seven other Vietnamese nationals accused of failing to report the crime and assisting the suspects in their escape.