Ho Chi Minh City police have arrested two Samoa nationals accused of carrying out a fatal shooting that left one Australian citizen dead and another seriously injured, while also detaining eight Vietnamese nationals accused of helping the suspects flee toward Cambodia.

The information was announced during a press conference chaired by Lieutenant General Mai Hoang, director of Ho Chi Minh City Police, with updates provided by Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy director of the municipal police force and head of the city’s Criminal Investigation Agency.

Emergency detention orders have been issued against Vaa Vaa, born in 1999, and Tafia Steve, born in 2003, both citizens of Samoa.

The two suspects, Vaa Vaa (right) and Tafia Steve. Photo: Police

Investigators identified Vaa Vaa as the gunman who directly opened fire, while Tafia Steve allegedly acted as an accomplice providing active support.

Authorities also detained Nguyen Trong Nghia, a 24-year-old passenger transport driver from Tay Ninh Province, along with seven other Vietnamese nationals to investigate allegations of concealing crimes, assisting fugitives and organizing illegal border crossings.

Deadly attack outside seafood restaurant

The shooting occurred at around 10:10 p.m. on May 21 outside a seafood restaurant at 70 Truong Dinh Street in Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.

According to investigators, the two suspects used military-grade firearms to shoot directly at the victims before fleeing the scene.

The victims were identified as Australian nationals Lemalu Lorenzo Tovia, born in 2001, who died after being shot twice, and Sauni Sam, born in 1999, who suffered serious injuries and remains under treatment in hospital.

Police said the case was considered particularly serious because it involved foreign suspects operating in a professional and organized manner.

Lieutenant General Mai Hoang directly ordered the Criminal Police Division, Ben Thanh Ward police and specialized units under the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate the investigation.

Using a combination of investigative measures and digital mapping technology at the city’s Command Information Center, officers reconstructed the suspects’ movements and escape route.

Within less than 24 hours, authorities identified both suspects and clarified the route they took after carrying out the attack.

Suspects say they acted under overseas orders

At the investigation office, both suspects reportedly admitted they had entered Vietnam to carry out the attack under direct orders from an individual based overseas.

Police said the pair arrived in Vietnam on May 14 and spent several days tracking and monitoring the victims before launching the ambush.

Vaa Vaa admitted to being the gunman in the May 21 shooting on Truong Dinh Street.

“I understand my actions were wrong and I deeply regret what I did. Vietnamese police have treated me well and ensured my health and daily needs,” Vaa Vaa told investigators.

Tafia Steve was identified as an accomplice who actively assisted in the operation. He told investigators the pair had been hired to assassinate the two Australian citizens in Ho Chi Minh City.

“Although we carefully planned our escape in Vietnam after the attack, we failed and I accept responsibility before the law,” Tafia Steve said.

“I want to advise anyone thinking of coming to Vietnam to commit crimes to give up immediately because Vietnamese police will certainly arrest you,” he added.

After carrying out the shooting, the two suspects reportedly returned to an apartment building in Long Binh Ward before hiring a taxi to the Co.opmart area in Trang Bang, Tay Ninh Province, where they got out in an attempt to flee toward Cambodia.

Investigators later determined that taxi driver Nguyen Trong Nghia and seven other Vietnamese nationals were aware the suspects had committed the shooting but failed to report the crime. Authorities allege the group instead helped conceal and assist the suspects during their escape.

Because the suspects were believed to be armed with military weapons and capable of violent resistance, police deployed a large-scale and carefully coordinated arrest operation involving around 1,000 officers from Ho Chi Minh City Police, Ministry of Public Security units and Tay Ninh provincial police.

Less than 72 hours after the shooting, officers tracked down and arrested the suspects near the Vietnam-Cambodia border.

The suspects were safely transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City Criminal Investigation Agency for further questioning.

Vaa Vaa and Tafia Steve are being investigated on murder charges, while Nguyen Trong Nghia and seven others are under investigation for organizing illegal border crossings and failing to report crimes.

Police said the investigation is continuing and additional suspects linked to the case may face arrest.

Lieutenant General Mai Hoang, director of Ho Chi Minh City Police, and Colonel Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy director, directly question suspect Vaa Vaa. Photo: Police

Dam De