2015 Bình Phước massacre
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Minh Hưng commune, Chơn Thành district, Bình Phước province, Vietnam
| 2015 Bình Phước massacre | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Vụ án Nguyễn Hải Dương |
| Location | 11°28′20″N 106°36′53″E / 11.4722930°N 106.6147557°E Minh Hưng commune, Chơn Thành district, Bình Phước province, Vietnam |
| Date | July 7, 2015 |
Attack type | Mass murder, robbery |
| Deaths | 6 |
| Perpetrators | Nguyễn Hải Dương Vũ Văn Tiến Trần Đình Thoại (accomplice) |
| Motive | Revenge, robbery |
The 2015 Bình Phước massacre (Vietnamese: Vụ thảm sát ở Bình Phước năm 2015) was a mass murder that took place in Vietnam on 7 July 2015, in Bình Phước province. Nguyễn Hải Dương, with the help of Vũ Văn Tiến, murdered six members of a family in their home. The motive was revenge after Dương's relationship with a victim's daughter ended, combined with an intent to rob the family. A third accomplice, Trần Đình Thoại, assisted in planning but did not participate in the killings. Dương and Tiến were sentenced to death and executed in 2017 and 2018, respectively, while Thoại received a 16-year prison sentence.
Nguyễn Hải Dương (born 1991), from An Giang province, had been in a relationship with Lê Thị Ánh Linh, the 22-year-old daughter of wealthy timber businessman Lê Văn Mỹ. The couple dated for over a year, but Linh's mother, Nguyễn Lê Thị Ánh Nga, opposed the relationship due to Dương's modest background. In May 2015, Linh ended the relationship and began dating someone else, which fueled Dương's resentment. Dương, who had previously worked for the family and knew their home layout, planned to kill the family as revenge and to steal their assets.[1][2] Dương recruited Trần Đình Thoại (born 1988) and later Vũ Văn Tiến (born 1991) for the crime, promising them a share of the stolen goods. Thoại helped purchase weapons but backed out after a failed attempt in June 2015. Tiến joined for the final act.[3][4] The victims lived in a villa in Minh Hưng commune, which included a timber factory. The family was known for their wealth but modest lifestyle.[5]
Murders
In the early hours of 7 July 2015, Dương and Tiến entered the property through a gate opened by Dư Minh Vỹ (14, Linh's cousin), whom Dương had bribed. They subdued Vỹ, strangled him, and stabbed him to death near the gate. They then broke into the house, restrained the other family members, and demanded money from a safe, which they could not open. The perpetrators systematically killed the victims by strangling them with ropes and stabbing them in the neck multiple times. The only survivor was 18-month-old Lê Thị Gia Linh (Lê Văn Mỹ's youngest daughter), whom Dương spared because he was fond of her. He cradled her back to sleep after the killings. The pair stole electronic devices and cash worth approximately 50 million VND (about US$2,200) but left other valuables untouched. They fled around 4:00 a.m.[6][7][8] The bodies were discovered around 7:00 a.m. by a family employee.[9]
Victims
- Lê Văn Mỹ (nicknamed "Quốc") – owner of the wood workshop, 47 year-old
- Nguyễn Lê Thị Ánh Nga – Mỹ's wife, 42 year-old
- Lê Thị Ánh Linh – daughter of Mỹ and Ánh Nga, 22 year-old
- Lê Quốc Anh – son of Mỹ and Ánh Nga, 15 year-old
- Dư Ngọc Tố Như – Ánh Nga's niece, 18 year-old
- Dư Minh Vỹ – Ánh Nga's nephew, 14 year-old
Investigation and arrests
The crime shocked Vietnam, prompting a rapid response from authorities. Minister of Public Security Trần Đại Quang directed a special task force. Investigators collected fingerprints, blood samples, and phone records, leading to Dương within days. Dương was arrested on 10 July 2015 at the victims' funeral after attempting to create an alibi. He confessed and implicated Tiến, who was captured the same day in Hóc Môn district, Ho Chi Minh City. Thoại was arrested on 10 August 2015 after evidence linked him to the planning.[10][11][12] A crime scene reenactment was conducted, and the case was prosecuted for murder and robbery under Vietnam's Penal Code.[13]