Suspect Arrested for Chinatown Murders
Los Angeles: On January 26, 2017, at 2:30 p.m., 37-year old Vinh Quok DAO entered the Hop Sing Tong Benevolent Association, located in Historic ChinaTown. Dao, who had previously been a member of the private club, had been estranged from the Los Angeles area for several years, but recently returned.
Once inside the club, Dao demanded that one of the members known to him give him $400 to pay for vehicle impound fees. When the member refused to cooperate, Dao exhibited a 6” buck-style knife and attacked him. Another member tried to come to the victim’s aid, but Dao also attacked that person. Dao then fled the scene. Both victims died from their wounds. Police spent the next 24 hours searching for Dao.
The victims are both of Chinese descent and longtime members of the club. They spent most of their days at the club playing mahjong and visiting with friends. The identities of the victims cannot be released at this time, pending notification of next of kin by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office.
Central Homicide Detectives, along with the support of a joint apprehension task force, located Dao in Rosemead, California, around 4:30 pm this afternoon. He was taken into custody without incident. On Tuesday, January 31, 2017, the case will be presented to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with additional information is urged to call, Detective Tricia Hauck at 213-996-1878 Los Angeles Police Department, Central Homicides Detectives. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit ww.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.
