By Joe Wolfcale
Marin Independent Journal (California, USA)
Eng Heng and Thanh Thach of Cambodia bought a San Anselmo nail salon this year and had embarked on the American dream, only to have it shattered last week when Thach was shot dead as he delivered pizza in Richmond.
"The salon was my dream," said Eng Heng, known to clients as Jenny. "He was a handsome man. He was hard working. And a very gentle man."
At 9 p.m. Nov. 26, four days after Heng, Thach and family had celebrated Thanksgiving in their modest Richmond home, an unknown assailant shot Thach twice from behind while he delivered a pizza on South 45th Street.
Thach, 38, who worked part-time as a manicurist at the Precision Salon & Beauty Supply on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard - and delivered pizzas at night for Pizza Hut in El Cerrito - had wandered around the Park Plaza neighborhood before being shot. Richmond police say robbery does not appear to be the motive because his change purse, cell phone and the pizza he had attempted to deliver to a regular customer were found nearby, police said.
Thach, a Buddhist monk for a decade before he met Heng, was cremated and his ashes will be scattered in the village of his family in Cambodia. Heng's father was among 1.5 million Cambodians killed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979.
A memorial fund has been established by Pizza Hut for Heng and her boys, an 18-month-old, a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old El Cerrito High School freshman. Contributions can be made at any Bank of America branch office.
Richmond police detectives remain optimistic about cracking the case. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.
Richmond police Detective Eric Haupt said Thach was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"This is probably one of the most shocking and disturbing homicides I've been involved with in 14 years," Haupt said. "This was just completely senseless."
He said police are making progress on the case. "Things are looking more hopeful as the days go by."
Heng fought back tears Wednesday as she thumbed through a photo album packed with wedding-day photographs and incense burned on a table where a shrine was adorned with photographs, candles and food offerings.
She and Thach had immigrated separately, met in this country and started their family here.
Heng, who became a U.S. citizen in the mid-1990s, worked at nail salons throughout Marin before purchasing the San Anselmo salon this year.
Thach, who earned his U.S. citizenship in September, had recently lost his job as a mail handler at the U.S. Postal Service center in West Oakland and had been delivering pizzas for about a month. He had earned his manicurist license.
Ellen Riaboff of Mill Valley, a client of Heng's for about five years, said the situation is overwhelming.
"This is such a tragedy," Riaboff said. "It's living, breathing, happening right now and it's not going away anytime soon.
"Jenny's smart and ambitious, that's what has gotten her this far.
"It's really too overwhelming to think about where to go from here. We just want to help out.
"What do you say to comfort her, though, other than I'm here if you need me?"
Contact Joe Wolfcale via e-mail at jwolfcale@marinij.com
"The salon was my dream," said Eng Heng, known to clients as Jenny. "He was a handsome man. He was hard working. And a very gentle man."
At 9 p.m. Nov. 26, four days after Heng, Thach and family had celebrated Thanksgiving in their modest Richmond home, an unknown assailant shot Thach twice from behind while he delivered a pizza on South 45th Street.
Thach, 38, who worked part-time as a manicurist at the Precision Salon & Beauty Supply on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard - and delivered pizzas at night for Pizza Hut in El Cerrito - had wandered around the Park Plaza neighborhood before being shot. Richmond police say robbery does not appear to be the motive because his change purse, cell phone and the pizza he had attempted to deliver to a regular customer were found nearby, police said.
Thach, a Buddhist monk for a decade before he met Heng, was cremated and his ashes will be scattered in the village of his family in Cambodia. Heng's father was among 1.5 million Cambodians killed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge from 1975 to 1979.
A memorial fund has been established by Pizza Hut for Heng and her boys, an 18-month-old, a 3-year-old and a 15-year-old El Cerrito High School freshman. Contributions can be made at any Bank of America branch office.
Richmond police detectives remain optimistic about cracking the case. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.
Richmond police Detective Eric Haupt said Thach was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"This is probably one of the most shocking and disturbing homicides I've been involved with in 14 years," Haupt said. "This was just completely senseless."
He said police are making progress on the case. "Things are looking more hopeful as the days go by."
Heng fought back tears Wednesday as she thumbed through a photo album packed with wedding-day photographs and incense burned on a table where a shrine was adorned with photographs, candles and food offerings.
She and Thach had immigrated separately, met in this country and started their family here.
Heng, who became a U.S. citizen in the mid-1990s, worked at nail salons throughout Marin before purchasing the San Anselmo salon this year.
Thach, who earned his U.S. citizenship in September, had recently lost his job as a mail handler at the U.S. Postal Service center in West Oakland and had been delivering pizzas for about a month. He had earned his manicurist license.
Ellen Riaboff of Mill Valley, a client of Heng's for about five years, said the situation is overwhelming.
"This is such a tragedy," Riaboff said. "It's living, breathing, happening right now and it's not going away anytime soon.
"Jenny's smart and ambitious, that's what has gotten her this far.
"It's really too overwhelming to think about where to go from here. We just want to help out.
"What do you say to comfort her, though, other than I'm here if you need me?"
Contact Joe Wolfcale via e-mail at jwolfcale@marinij.com
5 comments:
what US State is this tragedy happen? Where?
It's in Richmond, California, close to San Francisco.
What difference does it makes? Hello!
USA is not immune to any crime. It is not heaven.
However, at least its justice system is far more better than many countries but it is not the top. It is not perfect. No greengrass at the otherside of fence.
But when life is lost, it is too tragic to compare to any system of justice to compensate the loss.
Wrong US justice system is not better than many countries. Too many criminals are not being punished, but released to victimize US citizens.
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