Deputies shoot suspect in Lacey murder
OLYMPIA, Wash. - A suspect wanted for the murder of a man in Lacey was shot by deputies as he attempted to escape from them Saturday afternoon in Olympia.
The suspect, 41-year-old John Chinh Vu, had been the focus of a police manhunt since Thursday, when a 21-year-old Olympia man was shot to death during an argument outside a house in Lacey.
Thurston County sheriff's deputies surrounded a home on Judd Street in Olympia on Saturday after getting word that Vu might be holed up there.
As other people were being evacuated from the home, deputies said, Vu tried to escape from the home through a back window.
Deputies challenged Vu and there was a confrontation. Vu did not stop, so deputies fired, hitting him at least once in the torso.
Vu was taken to St. Peter's Hospital in Olympia. His condition is unknown, but he was alive when taken from the scene, deputies said.
Officers also have taken Vu's girlfriend into custody - they want to know if she was helping Vu hide from authorities since Thursday's fatal shooting. If so, she could face charges herself.
Vu has been charged in Thurston County Superior Court with second-degree murder while armed with a deadly weapon and a warrant was issued earlier for his arrest following Thursday's shooting in Lacey.
The victim of that shooting was identified earlier as David J. Mapu. Police suspect that Vu shot Mapu during an argument that started over an iPod, then drove away in a two-door sedan, investigators said.
Lt. Chris Mealy said Mapu lives in Olympia, but had come to Lacey 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.
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.
The suspect, 41-year-old John Chinh Vu, had been the focus of a police manhunt since Thursday, when a 21-year-old Olympia man was shot to death during an argument outside a house in Lacey.
Thurston County sheriff's deputies surrounded a home on Judd Street in Olympia on Saturday after getting word that Vu might be holed up there.
As other people were being evacuated from the home, deputies said, Vu tried to escape from the home through a back window.
Deputies challenged Vu and there was a confrontation. Vu did not stop, so deputies fired, hitting him at least once in the torso.
Vu was taken to St. Peter's Hospital in Olympia. His condition is unknown, but he was alive when taken from the scene, deputies said.
Officers also have taken Vu's girlfriend into custody - they want to know if she was helping Vu hide from authorities since Thursday's fatal shooting. If so, she could face charges herself.
Vu has been charged in Thurston County Superior Court with second-degree murder while armed with a deadly weapon and a warrant was issued earlier for his arrest following Thursday's shooting in Lacey.
The victim of that shooting was identified earlier as David J. Mapu. Police suspect that Vu shot Mapu during an argument that started over an iPod, then drove away in a two-door sedan, investigators said.
Lt. Chris Mealy said Mapu lives in Olympia, but had come to Lacey 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.
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.
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