Doan Thien Long at the court. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for charges of murder and illegal possession, transportation and use of firearms. — VNA/VNS
KIEN GIANG: Doan Thien Long, 22, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday (Jan 31) for killing two people and injuring six in the notorious Phu Quoc shootout.
Kien Giang Province People's Court also pronounced a life sentence on Nguyen Van Tha, 35, for murder and Bui Duc Ngoc, 31, for murder and use of military firearms.
Phạm Anh Hieu, 33, was sentenced to 20 years for murder.
Other gang members were given jailed terms ranging from six months to 18 years for murder, illegal possession of firearms, disturbance of public order, and harbouring a fugitive.
According to the indictment, the shootout arose from a land dispute in which one party hired Thái's gang to seize land claimed by the other party in which Nguyen Van Truong is also a gang member.
On Oct 27, 2022, Thai's gang drove to the disputed land area and a row between the two rival factions began. After some arguing, the two agreed to meet again in the evening to smooth things over.
The court said that when Thai's gang was about to leave, they found a car blocking their road. They tried to pull it out of the way but Truong's gang suddenly assaulted them with bricks. Being caught off guard, Thái called in more people for help.
Nguyen Van Qua showed up with a gun and started shooting indiscriminately. The sound of gunfire drew even more people in, and more than 50 rushed to attack Truong and his gang members.
When Truong's gang was in retreat, Doan Thien Long pursued and shot dead Phan Trong Hai and Nguyen Anh Thu (members of Truong's gang), and injured six others, including Truong.
Thai's group left the scene after Trường's group retreated into a house. — Vietnam News/ANN
