Ex-Viet Official Lays Shooting to Stand on Hanoi

A former South Vietnam housing official who was shot twice near his Westminster real estate office, has told detectives that he thinks the attack was politically motivated and resulted from his statements suggesting a working relationship with Hanoi, police said Thursday.

Tran Khanh Van, 40, of Santa Ana, who is recovering from his wounds, told investigators that “he felt (the attack) was political over what he said,” Westminster police Sgt. Bob Burnett said. “We have not concurred with that . . . because we don’t have proof. He said he thought he knew why it was done but not who.”

Detectives said they have not ruled out the possibility that Van was shot by someone angered by his statements in a Jan. 5 Los Angeles Times Magazine article advocating restoration of relations with Vietnam. Burnett said extortion, robbery or a personal dispute are also being considered.

“Right now I’m looking at a street criminal,” Burnett said, “someone whose basic livelihood is from robbing and extorting and assaulting people--not a hit man.”