Repeat Offender Sentenced to 45 Years for Double Murder at Houston Restaurant
A 51-year-old repeat offender was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his involvement in a double murder at a Houston restaurant in 2022, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced Thursday.
Bich Xuan Dang pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced last week, just before his trial was set to begin. Dang was one of three men who entered Tai Loi, a Vietnamese restaurant at 12320 Bellaire Blvd., on October 5, 2022, and shot two men at a booth, Hanh Nguyen, 63, and Long Nguyen, 51, killing both.
The shooting was recorded on surveillance video, and witnesses identified Dang. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, but prior to the incident, the trio had attempted to extort $1,000 from the manager of Café Window, a nearby Vietnamese business. After a confrontation with an armed security guard at Café Window, the men proceeded to Tai Loi and began shooting almost immediately.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Condon, who is a chief in the DA’s Homicide Division, said, “We were ready to go to trial when this defendant chose to take responsibility and plead guilty. There is surveillance video of exactly what happened and witnesses who were planning to testify in order to get justice for the victims and their families.”
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg stated, “This was a brutal shooting at a place that should be safe for families and for all Houstonians. It’s important to the community, as well as the victims’ families, that everyone involved be held accountable.”
Since Dang pleaded guilty, he is ineligible to appeal the conviction or sentence and must serve at least half of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
Officers with the Houston Police Department investigated the incident, arresting Dang and another man whose case is still pending. The third suspect has not been apprehended. Authorities are seeking information on this individual and encourage tips to Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
