Richard Van, a 22-year-old resident of Long Beach, California, tragically lost his life on March 12, 2018. The incident occurred in the 1300 block of Wesley Drive, where officers responded to a call about a shooting around 4:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Van with a gunshot wound to his upper torso. He was quickly transported to a local hospital by Long Beach Fire Department personnel but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
The initial investigation revealed that a physical confrontation had taken place between multiple individuals before the shooting, leading authorities to suspect that the incident was gang-related.
The investigation into Richard Van's death took a significant turn in August 2020 when detectives uncovered new evidence linking two suspects to the crime. David Vongkoth, 28, and Danny Sourn, 26, both residents of Long Beach, were identified as the perpetrators. According to the evidence, Vongkoth and Sourn confronted Van on the afternoon of March 12, 2018, and the confrontation quickly escalated into a shooting. The motive behind the shooting was believed to be gang-related, consistent with the initial suspicions.
On August 10, 2020, detectives arrested David Vongkoth during a traffic stop in the 2600 block of Atlantic Avenue. He was booked on one count of murder and held at a Los Angeles County jail with a bail set at $2,000,000. Three days later, on August 13, 2020, Danny Sourn was arrested near his residence in the 5400 block of Orange Avenue. He was also booked on one count of murder and held at the Long Beach City jail with a similar bail amount. The case was subsequently presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.
The arrests of Vongkoth and Sourn marked a significant development in the case, providing some measure of closure for Richard Van's family and the community. The Long Beach Police Department continued to urge anyone with additional information about the case to come forward, emphasizing the importance of community cooperation in solving such crimes. The investigation highlighted the ongoing issue of gang violence in the area and the efforts of law enforcement to address and mitigate its impact on the community.
