Jury Convicts Tuong Nguyen of Attempted Murder, Carjacking, and Multiple Gun Felonies in February 2022 Crime Spree
NAPA, CA – “PRESS RELEASE
NAPA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
1127 First Street, Ste. C
Napa, CA 94559
Main: (707) 253-4211
Fax: (707) 253-4041
www.countyofnapa.org/da
ALLISON HALEY
District Attorney
For Immediate Release
November 10, 2025
Media Contact:
Carlos Villatoro, (707) 299-1409
PRESS RELEASE
Jury Convicts Tuong Nguyen of Attempted Murder, Carjacking, Several Gun Felonies
Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley today announced that 45-year-old Tuong Nguyen was found guilty of attempted murder, carjacking and six additional gun-related felonies following a trial prosecuted by Napa County Chief Deputy District Attorney Taryn Hunter and Deputy District Attorney Lauren Kownacki.
“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,” Chief DDA Hunter said. “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 and we are grateful to the jury for their diligence and believe their verdict is consistent with the evidence presented in this case.”
The jury also convicted Nguyen of shooting from a motor vehicle, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammo by a prohibited person, carrying a loaded firearm, and carrying a loaded firearm that was not registered to him.
The jury found true the special allegations of personal and intentional use of a firearm with great bodily injury; great bodily injury; that the crimes involved the use of a weapon, a vulnerable victim, and violent conduct.
The chaotic chain of events leading to Nguyen’s arrest and subsequent conviction began during rush hour on the morning of February 18, 2022. Nguyen was driving erratically – at times going into the opposite lane of traffic – along northbound Highway 29 in American Canyon, when he approached a pickup truck driven by his first victim who was on his way to work near the interchange of Highways 29 and 221.
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 and made his way to First Street in downtown Napa, where he used the gun to carjack a white Toyota Tacoma from a second victim who was preparing to start his shift at a local restaurant. The multi-agency search for the suspect – which involved personnel from the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, Napa Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Napa County District Attorney’s Office – came to an end near Highway 221 at Magnolia Drive as police closed in on Nguyen and took him into custody.
Nguyen’s criminal history shows he served a prior prison sentence following a conviction of an August 2019 robbery in Nevada.
The case against Nguyen lasted approximately two weeks and featured over 100 exhibits and the testimony of numerous witnesses. Nguyen is due back in court on Wednesday for a hearing in which the Court will decide the remaining special allegations and to set a date for sentencing.
The defendant faces a sentence of life in prison and remains in custody without bail at the Napa County Department of Corrections.
The Napa County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, the Napa Police Department, and its own Bureau of Investigations and support staff who helped secure a conviction in this case.
If you have any questions pertaining to this case, please contact Public Information Officer Carlos Villatoro.”
