Mass Killing Suspects Won’T Be Facing Death

Sun., Feb. 21, 1999

From Staff

Surviving suspects in Tacoma’s worst mass slaying will not face the death penalty if convicted, Pierce County prosecutors say.

The five would be sentenced to life in prison without possibility of release if found guilty in the July 5 killings at the Trang Dai Cafe, Prosecutor John Ladenburg said Friday.

Jimmie Chea and Sarun Truck Ngeth, both 19, were the only defendants who faced the death penalty, but neither is accused of participating in the actual shooting. Prosecutors say they were drivers who waited some distance from the shootings that left five dead and five injured.

The three others were under 18 at the time of the killings and are not eligible for the death penalty under state law.

Attorneys for Chea and Ngeth were pleased with the decision.

Prosecutors charged eight people with five counts each of aggravated first-degree murder and first-degree assault in the shooting. Prosecutors say the attack was gang-related.

Three of the eight, including accused ringleader Ri Ngoc Le, are already dead.

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