Search fatalities

Hong Ngoc Nguyen

Gender : Female

Age : 25

Race : Asian

Date : 12/02/2024

Location : Intersection of Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street

City : Fountain Valley

County : Orange

State : California

Agency : Fountain Valley Police Department

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Bystander killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 12/02/2024, at approximately 10:00 p.m., officers from the Fountain Valley Police Department initiated a pursuit of Timothy Bradford Cole II, a 43-year-old documented member of a white supremacist gang. The pursuit began after Cole allegedly set fire to a bush outside his sister's fiancé's residence in retaliation for losing custody of his children. This custody loss was reportedly initiated by his sister contacting child protective services.
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Cole fled the scene in a white Dodge Ram pickup truck. The pursuit, lasting less than a minute and covering just over a mile, ended at the intersection of Ellis Avenue and Magnolia Street when Cole ran a red light and collided with a white BMW X3.
The crash killed 25-year-old bystander Hong Ngoc Nguyen, a tourist from Vietnam, who was a passenger in the BMW. Two other occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries and were transported to a local trauma center for treatment.
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Cole was apprehended at the scene and transported to a trauma center in Long Beach for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He faces multiple charges, including murder and arson. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 120 years in prison.
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The Orange County District Attorney's Office has highlighted Cole’s white supremacist gang affiliation and emphasized the tragic loss of an innocent life caused by his actions. The case remains under investigation.
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TOTAL FATALITIES/INJURIES DURING THIS POLICE ENCOUNTER: 1 fatality, 2 injuries
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Last Update: 12/06/2024

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/25-year-old-woman-killed-police-pursuit-arson-suspect-fountain-valley/3573677/
https://www.foxla.com/news/white-supremacist-charged-murder-arson-after-police-chase-crash-kills-tourist-fountain-valley