16-year-old boy arrested in Calif. deputy’s killing

By Associated Press
Related: Calif. gang officer fatally shot during foot pursuit
Officer Down: Deputy Sheriff Vu Nguyen

By Niesha Lofing and Ryan Lillis
The Sacramento Bee

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection to the death of Sacramento Sheriff’s Detective Vu Nguyen, Sheriff John McGinness announced Thursday morning.

“We’re confident that we got our guy,” McGinness said during a 9 a.m. news conference, smiling as he broke the news.

The boy was arrested at 12:30 a.m. at a family member’s home in the Meadowview area on suspicion of murdering Nguyen on Wednesday. The boy is being held without bail in the county’s juvenile hall.

McGinness declined to identify the juvenile because of his age but described him as “relatively cooperative.” McGinnis said the boy, who is not believed to be enrolled in school, has identified himself as a “gang affiliate.”

McGinness said he believes that charges will be filed against him as an adult.

No one else is facing charges at this time in connection to the shooting death, McGinness said.

Officials have recovered several weapons and are working to determine if one of them is the murder weapon.

Nguyen, 37, a seven-year department veteran who was assigned to the gang team, was shot Wednesday afternoon as he chased after a young man through the backyards of south Sacramento homes.

He died later that night from a bullet wound to the neck.