(KRON) — A driver who shot another motorist in the head on Highway 29 in Napa is facing a life prison sentence. Jurors found Tuong Nguyen, 45, guilty of attempted murder, carjacking, and six gun-related felonies following a trial, the Napa County District Attorney announced Monday.
The case stemmed from a “chaotic chain of events” that began during rush hour on the morning of February 18, 2022, prosecutors said.
Nguyen drove erratically, at times veering into oncoming traffic, along Highway 29 between American Canyon and Napa, according to prosecutors. At the same time, Robert Abreu was driving his pickup truck to work, family members said.
“Nguyen pulled out the firearm he was carrying and shot at the victim, shattering the truck’s rear window and striking him in the head. The victim managed to pull over onto the side of the highway and call 911 while the defendant fled the area,” prosecutors wrote.
The victim’s daughters wrote, “Robert was shot in the face … by the reckless driver. A total stranger.”
Nguyen’s crime spree continued in downtown Napa, where he carjacked a Toyota Tacoma from a second victim, prosecutors said.
The multi-agency search for the suspect ended near Highway 221 at Magnolia Drive, where police found Nguyen and took him into custody.
Abreu miraculously survived after undergoing surgery at a hospital.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Taryn Hunter said Monday, “Today’s verdict punctuates a long and difficult journey for the victims in this case who have waited with strength and patience to see justice served. This case involved the coordination and testimony of dozens of witnesses, mental health competency hearings, and numerous continuances, each step bringing us closer to this day of accountability.”
Nguyen served a prior prison sentence after he was convicted in August 2019 for robbery in Nevada. He will return to court on Wednesday to set a date for his sentencing hearing. Prosecutors said he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
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