On 18/9, Dong Nai Police completed their investigation report, transferring the case file to the local People's Procuracy and recommending the indictment of Nguyen Duc Anh, 21, for murder and illegal use of military weapons.

According to the investigation, Duc Anh had been in a relationship with a 17-year-old girl in Binh Minh commune since February. When she initiated the breakup in July, Duc Anh developed a plan for revenge.

On the afternoon of 2/9, Duc Anh drank with 7 people at a friend's house in Ho Nai ward. During the drinking session, he cried, recounted his breakup, and stated his intention to kill her, but his friends dissuaded him.

Duc Anh at the time of his arrest. Photo: Thai Ha

Around 10:30 PM, after the drinking session, Duc Anh asked a friend to drive him to the Bui Chu hamlet area, Binh Minh commune, claiming he needed to collect a debt of 5 million VND.

En route, Duc Anh asked his friend to drive him back to his rented room in Ho Nai ward to retrieve some items. The friend was unaware of what Duc Anh took.

At his rented room, Duc Anh took a Japanese sword and a Thai knife, concealed them, and then asked his friend to drive him back to the previously mentioned area, which was near his ex-girlfriend's house. Upon arrival, Duc Anh requested his friend to drive around the house three times to observe.

Spotting Mr. Dinh Van Rung, his ex-girlfriend's father, returning home from work, Duc Anh asked his friend to stop the car and said, "Let me deal with this man, he is the father of the one who owes me money."

His friend intervened, preventing Duc Anh from carrying out his plan, and drove him back to his rented room before returning home.

Returning to the ex-girlfriend's house at midnight

According to investigators, around 12:00 AM on 3/9, Duc Anh drove his own motorbike, wearing a mask and carrying two sharp knives, back to his ex-girlfriend's house. Believing the Japanese sword was not sharp enough, he had discarded it near his rented room.

Duc Anh parked his motorbike behind the house, took off his sandals, and climbed onto a neighbor's roof, attempting to break in with the intention of killing his ex-girlfriend.

Hearing a noise near the skylight, Mr. Rung shone a flashlight and asked, "Who's there?" Duc Anh replied, "It's me."

Mr. Rung asked, "Where are you going?" Duc Anh said, "Looking for my girlfriend." The girl's father told him to leave and threatened to report him to the police.

Blocked, Duc Anh climbed down. He then assumed there might be a passage from the adjacent house to his girlfriend's house, so he climbed back onto the roof and crossed over to the house of Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang, located next door.

Breaking into the adjacent house

Duc Anh opened the second-floor door and went down to the ground floor, where he was discovered by Mr. Quang, who asked, "Who's there?" The suspect then used a knife to attack the homeowner.

Mr. Quang ran to the kitchen to get a knife to fight back, injuring Duc Anh on the forehead. The suspect continued to pursue, forcing Mr. Quang to run around the house.

At this time, Ms. Ho Thi Mai, 36, Mr. Quang's wife, woke up to the noise and ran out to open the gate to call for help.

When she returned to the area in front of the bedroom, she encountered Duc Anh and was attacked, collapsing on the spot.

Mr. Quang then ran into the street crying for help but was chased by the suspect, who continued to attack him until he collapsed approximately 15 meters from the house gate.

Dong Nai Police and Procuracy reenacting the crime scene. Photo: Thai Ha

According to the investigation, Duc Anh then went back into Mr. Quang's house, locked the gate, and searched for other people in the house with the intention of continuing the murders to eliminate witnesses.

Entering the bedroom, the suspect found Mr. Quang's two children—an 11-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter—sleeping on the bed and mattress below. He attacked them with a knife, causing both to die.

After committing the crime, Duc Anh went to the bathroom to wash his hands and feet. As he opened the gate to escape, he was caught red-handed by police officers.

Ms. Mai, her 11-year-old son, and 2-year-old daughter died. Mr. Quang was severely injured but was later saved.

The person who drove Duc Anh was not prosecuted

Through investigation, police determined that the man who drove Duc Anh to collect a debt before the crime, upon learning of his friend's intention to kill Mr. Rung, intervened and drove him back to his rented room before returning home.

The following morning, this man and 6 other people who had been drinking with Duc Anh were invited by the police for questioning, and it was then that they learned of the crime.

Investigators determined there was no basis to prosecute these individuals.

Regarding Mr. Quang's use of a knife to fight back and injure Duc Anh, police determined that the act did not constitute a crime, as it fell under "legitimate self-defense."

Phuoc Tuan