Victims of Store Fire Identified as Owner, Employee

Two men found dead inside a Santa Ana shop demolished by a massive explosion and fire have been identified through dental charts as the store owner and an employee, authorities said Wednesday.

Santa Ana Fire Department arson investigators said the pair spread gasoline-like liquid throughout Today’s Auto Parts & Stereo early Monday morning and that one of them set it on fire too soon, making it impossible for them to escape. Four stores in a shopping center were destroyed with damage estimated at $950,000.

“Initial investigation indicates a possible motive may have been the poor financial condition of the business,” department spokeswoman Sharon Frank said.

The 23-year-old owner, Liem Khac Dinh, insured the contents of the combination stereo and auto parts store for $175,000 more than a month ago, Frank said. The other victim, identified as That Thap Nguyen, 20, was an employee of Dinh’s and also lived with him, their roommates said.

“Dinh was apparently at the front of the store trying to continue to spread the flammable liquid. Nguyen’s body was found back near the bathroom and he apparently torched (it) too soon,” Frank said, “and so they were trapped.”

The owner of the shopping center said Dinh’s May rent check, received the day of the fire, had bounced.