Suspect, victim identified in Lacey killing
LACEY, Wash. - Thurston County sheriff's deputies said they are looking for 41-year-old John Chinh Vu in connection with Thursday night's fatal shooting in Lacey.
Officials said Vu - also known as John C. Twaine - is suspected of shooting a 21-year-old Olympia man to death during an argument outside a house in the 700 block of Lucerne Lane.
Vu has been charged in Thurston County Superior Court with second-degree murder while armed with a deadly weapon and a warrant has been issued for his arrest and entered into state and national databases.
Residents nearby called 911 after hearing multiple gunshots at about 6:40 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found an unconscious man with a gunshot wound to the back.
The victim, who was identified Friday as David J. Mapu, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mapu was wanted by the Lacey police at the time of his death for armed robbery and there was an arrest warrant out for him at that time.
The shooter drove away in a two-door sedan, investigators said.
Lt. Chris Mealy said the victim lives in Olympia, but had come to the area for a gathering of friends. He was standing outside the friends' home when another group showed up and they got into an argument.
At some point, one man pulled out a handgun and began shooting, sending everyone running for cover, Mealy said.
"It was just kind of pandemonium," Mealy said. "People were trying to get away from the gunfire and protect themselves. And that's what law enforcement was dealing with when they got here."
Vu is about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 130 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a mustache. Officials said he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Thurston County Chief Criminal Deputy Jim Chamberlain said Vu has an extensive criminal history dating back to the early 1980s, mostly in California.
He has convictions for illegal drugs, dangerous weapons and burglary. He is also wanted for felony parole violation in California.
Officials said Vu may be in the company of a woman named Jennifer K. Contrades, 37, who is wanted in California for dangerous drugs. She is not a suspect in the murder case but had been living at the same address as Vu and is now missing.
Anyone with information on this investigation should call the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 786-5279 or Crime Stoppers, 493-2222.
Officials said Vu - also known as John C. Twaine - is suspected of shooting a 21-year-old Olympia man to death during an argument outside a house in the 700 block of Lucerne Lane.
Vu has been charged in Thurston County Superior Court with second-degree murder while armed with a deadly weapon and a warrant has been issued for his arrest and entered into state and national databases.
Residents nearby called 911 after hearing multiple gunshots at about 6:40 p.m. When deputies arrived, they found an unconscious man with a gunshot wound to the back.
The victim, who was identified Friday as David J. Mapu, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mapu was wanted by the Lacey police at the time of his death for armed robbery and there was an arrest warrant out for him at that time.
The shooter drove away in a two-door sedan, investigators said.
Lt. Chris Mealy said the victim lives in Olympia, but had come to the area for a gathering of friends. He was standing outside the friends' home when another group showed up and they got into an argument.
At some point, one man pulled out a handgun and began shooting, sending everyone running for cover, Mealy said.
"It was just kind of pandemonium," Mealy said. "People were trying to get away from the gunfire and protect themselves. And that's what law enforcement was dealing with when they got here."
Vu is about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 130 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a mustache. Officials said he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Thurston County Chief Criminal Deputy Jim Chamberlain said Vu has an extensive criminal history dating back to the early 1980s, mostly in California.
He has convictions for illegal drugs, dangerous weapons and burglary. He is also wanted for felony parole violation in California.
Officials said Vu may be in the company of a woman named Jennifer K. Contrades, 37, who is wanted in California for dangerous drugs. She is not a suspect in the murder case but had been living at the same address as Vu and is now missing.
Anyone with information on this investigation should call the Thurston County Sheriff's Office at 786-5279 or Crime Stoppers, 493-2222.
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