3 Deny Guilt in Chinatown Slayings : Officer Among Victims During Jewelry Store Shoot-Out

Three men arrested on charges stemming from the Chinatown jewelry store shoot-out that left one policeman and two gunmen dead pleaded innocent Friday at their arraignment.

Appearing before Municipal Judge Elva R. Soper, Hau Cheong Chan, 29, of Alhambra, and Sang Nam Chinh, 19, of Rosemead, who authorities believe are affiliated with Chinese organized-crime gangs, pleaded innocent to three counts of murder in the deaths of Los Angeles Police Officer Duane Johnson and two of their alleged accomplices. They also pleaded innocent to one count of robbery and two counts of attempted murder in the wounding of Johnson’s partner, Officer Archie Nagao, and Robert Lee, the store owner’s son.

Defense attorneys also denied “special circumstance” allegations against the pair that would result in the death sentence or life imprisonment without possibility of parole if they are convicted.

The third suspect, Thong Huynh, 21, also of Rosemead, who has been described by the prosecution as the leader of “a violent Chinese gang,” pleaded innocent to one count of accessory to murder in allegedly hiding Chinh after the robbery.

Chinh also pleaded innocent to charges stemming from a separate robbery in November at a home in the Mt. Washington area. Defense attorneys for all three suspects argued against merging the charge with those in the Chinatown shoot-out.

Soper ruled that this and other motions will be heard at a Feb. 14. hearing. A date for a preliminary hearing in the case will also be set at that time.

Chan and Chinh remained in custody without bail. Soper denied a defense request to reduce Huynh’s $500,000 bail.

The charges against the trio stem from the Dec. 19 robbery of the Jin Hing Co. jewelry store that erupted into a gun battle when police responded to a silent alarm.

Also killed in the shoot-out were the suspects’ alleged accomplices, Robert Woo, 26, and Peter Chin, 33.