Cop Accused Of Killing 3 People In Robbery Murders Latest Shocker In New Orleans Crime Wave

In a city already beset by murder and police corruption, a police officer on Saturday held up a restaurant where she moonlighted as a guard, killing a fellow officer and two workers, authorities said.

Officer Annette Frank was arrested along with Roger Lacaze, 18, who helped in the robbery, said police Superintendent Richard Pennington.

Frank, 23, left the Kim Anh restaurant after the shootings and returned later under the guise of bringing help, Detective Sgt. Eddie Rantz said. Restaurant workers were able to identify her when she returned. She later confessed, Rantz said.

The victims were identified as Officer Ronald Williams, 25, who also moonlighted as a guard at the restaurant; Cuong Vu, 18; and his sister Ha Vu, 24.

The murders come as the city faces a wave of homicides: 11 dead in four days and 79 so far in 1995. At that pace, the city would exceed last year’s record of 420 murders. Its previous record of 389 killings was set in 1993.

The police department has also been plagued for years by corruption charges. An undercover FBI investigation exposed several officers in a drug ring in December.

“We’re going to continue to clean the police department of corrupt officers,” Pennington said.

Frank and Lacaze showed up shortly before 2 a.m., as the restaurant was closing, police said. Williams was shot first, then the Vus. Other employees got out and called police.

Frank gave several conflicting statements but eventually confessed, Rantz said.

“I was left somewhat speechless,” Mayor Marc Morial said. “I am more committed than ever to rid this city of crime and rid this department of corruption.”