Surviving Officer Describes Fatal Shoot-Out in Chinatown

A Los Angeles police officer who was wounded in a Chinatown shoot-out that killed his partner described the deadly gun battle in court Thursday, but he could not identify any of the three alleged robbers.

Officer Archie Nagao, 29, was shot in the neck after he and his partner responded to a robbery in progress at the Jin Hing Jade Jewelry and Antiques Store.

His partner, Duane Johnson, 27, was shot to death. Two of the gunmen also were fatally wounded, one by Nagao and the other by the store’s owner.

Nagao testified at the preliminary hearing for three reputed gang members--Hang Cheong Chan, 29; Sang Nam Chinh, 19, and Thong Nam Hyunh, 21--charged in connection with Johnson’s murder and Nagao’s attempted murder.

He said he could not identify any of the three defendants.

Let in by Suspect

Nagao said he and Johnson went to the store in response to a robbery alarm, peered through the store window and saw people “in the background.” Johnson was let into the store by one of the alleged robbers.

“After I looked (behind a display cabinet for suspects), I heard Officer Johnson say, ‘Your alarm went off,’ and I kept my eye on him,” Nagao said.

Johnson then disappeared through a doorway and, Nagao testified, he never saw him alive again. He also said he did not see who shot Johnson to death.

Nagao testified that he had placed his hand on his service revolver when he turned around and saw a man dressed in a blue suit coming toward him. The man pointed a revolver at Nagao’s head from a range of about three feet and shot him through the neck.

Nagao then drew his own revolver and shot the gunman to death.

“I placed my hand on my neck and felt blood,” he said.

Heard Volley of Shots

Nagao said he heard a single shot fired from behind him and ran behind a display case to reload his gun. While reloading, he heard a volley of shots but did not know who was shooting.

At about the same time, Nagao said, he saw two other suspects in the store and fired at the head of one of them who was coming down a flight of steps.

After being wounded, Nagao radioed for assistance, then ran outside and sought cover behind a vehicle.

“I had a hard time talking. I did not hear any acknowledgement. . . . I was feeling a little funny,” he testified.

A citizen came to his assistance, and Nagao asked him to call for help. Nagao was later taken away on a stretcher and spent 11 days in the hospital recovering.

Chan and Chinh are charged with murdering Johnson, causing the murders of their two accomplices and attempting to murder Nagao and could face the death penalty if convicted. Hyunh is charged with being an accessory to murder and does not face a possible death penalty.