Tu Anh Phan, 49, from Prior Lake, MN, was fatally shot on November 23, 2022, while dining at Cô Tu' Oriental Cuisine in Bloomington. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner confirmed that Phan died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. The incident occurred around lunchtime when a masked gunman entered the restaurant and opened fire, also injuring a 25-year-old server who is expected to recover.
The suspect, Aaron Le, 47, was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree
attempted murder in connection with the shooting. Le allegedly wore a Halloween mask and surgical gloves to conceal his identity and carried his firearms in a plastic bag to avoid leaving DNA evidence and shell casings. Surveillance footage from the restaurant captured the events leading up to the shooting, the shooting itself, and Le's escape.
Le was arrested in Oklahoma on Thanksgiving Day after investigators tracked his mobile phone. According to the criminal complaint, Le targeted Phan because he believed Phan had begun a romantic relationship with Le's ex-wife, although she denied any such relationship. Le, Phan, and Le's ex-wife had attended college together. The FBI had previously investigated a 'murder for hire' tip related to Le, Phan, and Le's ex-wife, but it was found to be unsubstantiated.
Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges described the attack as 'cold-blooded' and noted that Le took extensive precautions to avoid detection. Le is currently awaiting extradition to Minnesota, where authorities intend to seek first-degree murder charges based on new details in the investigation.
