Kimtuyet Thi Le, 56, was shot at work by her estranged husband, Tu Le Ngo, 60. Police say Ngo walked into the restaurante he and Kimtuyet co-owned and shot her and two customers in the head at close range.

Kimtuyet came to the United States from Vietnam with her husband in 1990. She had file  for divorce in 1999, was the case was later dismissed. The two hadn't lived together since 1997. Ngo pleaded guilty and is serving three life sentences.

Gunman Kills 3 In Houston Restaurant

Suspect's Daughter: Mom Was Accidentally Killed

July 31, 2002

HOUSTON -- A Houston man remained behind bars Wednesday accused of opening fire inside his own Asian restaurant, killing his wife and two customers, authorities said.

The shooting happened shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday at Kim Vietnamese Restaurant, 8200 Wilcrest Drive, in southwest Houston.

Investigators told News2Houston that Tu Ngo, 60, killed his wife, Kimtuyet Thi Le, 56, and customers Polaris Nguyen, 44, and Nuoi Vinh, 50.

Witnesses said that the Ngo walked in the restaurant and began shooting.

"Two victims in there tried to stop the suspect," witness Joe Huynh said. "I heard the suspect warn that, 'If you stop me. I will kill you, too.'"

Ngo made good on that threat, witnesses said, shooting Nguyen and Vinh.

The two customers and Thi Le were each shot at least twice in the head, police said.

Investigators said that the Ngo surrendered and admitted to shooting his wife as police rushed into the restaurant.

"(The suspect) walked up to the officers, and placed a weapon on the ground, and surrendered immediately to the responding officers," Houston Police Department spokesman Robert Hurst said.

Ngo was read his rights in English and Vietnamese, and taken into custody, authorities said.

Witnesses said that marital problems may have sparked the deadly shooting.

"The way I look at it, it was (jealousy)," Huynh said.

Detectives said that several customers exited the restaurant when Ngo opened fire and are asking that they contact police to provide information about the shootings.

Gunman's Daughter Speaks Out

Ngo's daughter spent Wednesday cleaning up the mess left inside the restaurant owned by both her parents.

Jenny Ngo told News2Houston that she received a phone call from her father shortly after the shootings.

"My dad called me and he told me that he killed my mom and somebody inside the restaurant," Jenny Ngo said.

She said that her father told her to get to the restaurant quickly.

"When I (got) here, he tried to say (he was) sorry to me," Jenny Ngo said. "He (was) sad and crying. And he (told) me, 'Take care.'"

Ngo said that she received another phone call from her father Wednesday, explaining what happened and telling her about the customers that he shot for continuously failing to pay their food bill.

"Yesterday, the same guy (came) in and my dad tried to ask him (to) pay the money," Jenny Ngo said. "But he (didn't) pay (and) tried to hit (my father)."

She said that's why she believes her father may have shot the customers.

As for her mother's death, Jenny Ngo said that she suspects her father may have accidentally killed her.

"And my mom tried to stop my dad, but maybe that (was) an accident," she said. "I don't think my dad (wanted) to kill my mom."