Van Nuys Man, 19, Sought in Kidnap
Authorities were searching Saturday for a 19-year-old Van Nuys gang member suspected of masterminding the kidnaping last month of his girlfriend’s brother, who died during the incident.
Detectives believe that Trung Quoc Hoang, who also goes by the name Tony, hired three other teen-agers to help abduct Ky La, 32, of Van Nuys, in order to rob him, said Deputy Larry Mead of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The three teen-agers were arrested last week.
La was kidnaped near his Van Nuys home, bound and gagged, and left in a vehicle while the four youths used his credit cards and money, Mead said. It appears La suffocated, although it is not clear whether the killing was accidental or intentional, Mead said.
La’s body was found Dec. 22 near Zuma Beach.
Authorities in Fresno on Thursday arrested two suspects, ages 15 and 16, on suspicion of kidnaping and murder, Mead said. A third boy, 17, was arrested Friday in Northridge.
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