On Wednesday night, nearly 100 members of the New Orleans East community solemnly congregated and stood before the Viet My Supermarket, the Vietnamese grocery store where longtime owner Thanh Vu was tragically killed during an armed robbery on New Year’s Eve.
The attendees represented a wide range of neighborhood residents, store employees, city officials, members of the Vietnamese community, and others who came together to share and honor Vu’s legacy and impact within the Village de L’Est neighborhood, according to NOLA.
“We gather here as one community united in love, compassion and support for one another,” former city councilmember Cyndi Nguyen expressed. “I know everybody is mourning, but if you could just look up and look around and to see the different faces that are here — Asian, African American, Hispanic, White, this is all one community.”
The 65-year-old had attempted to stop three suspects stealing cartons of cigarettes from her supermarket of more than 30 years.
New Orlean police announced during the vigil that it had arrested two men, Nathaniel K. Carpenter, 24, charged with second-degree murder, and 27-year-old Adrian Harris, booked as principal to second-degree murder. Law enforcement is also seeking a third accomplice, a woman named Anjaunau “Henny” Davis, 25, according to FOX 8.
Community members have called for better protection and safety from police and grassroots efforts in New Orleans East.
“For so many years, New Orleans East has been disinvested, under-resourced, often stigmatized,” said Tap Bui, co-executive director of Sông Community Development Corporation, to FOX 8,“We’ve been neglected for so long. We are tired of this.”
NOPD’s Parish Sherriff Susan Hutson, who attended the vigil, addressed the need for open conversation and the first step: listening. Hutson acknowledged root issues, “The root causes of crime are many,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s economic. Sometimes, it’s mental health. Sometimes, it’s addiction, trauma. … We are actually trying to address that with those in our custody. But first, we’ve got to get these folks into custody. They do have to be held accountable.”
“We deserve the same protection as anyone else in the city,” said Thuy Pham with NOLA. “We should feel safe. Our elders here should feel safe as well. These are our grandparents, our aunts, they should feel comfortable walking to the grocery store. … I call on all of our leaders to please come forward, protect us, help us, love us, please.”
Hang Vu, Thanh Vu’s oldest daughter, was grateful for the community support and thanked the crowd, “We really appreciate all the kind words and thoughts and memories you have shared of my mother,” she tearfully said. “I have no words for what we’re going through.”
Thanh Vu’s funeral service is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church on Dwyer Boulevard.
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