Mission, British Columbia – After nearly four years since a violent incident at a marijuana growing facility in Mission, a man has been given a life sentence for his actions.
The perpetrator, identified as Van Nguyen, carried out a deadly attack on August 8, 2020, resulting in the death of one individual and the confinement and assault of four others at a residence in Mission. Court documents from the B.C. Supreme Court reveal that he proceeded to set the house ablaze before fleeing the scene and disposing of the weapons used in the crime.
Although the motive behind Nguyen’s actions was not explicitly stated in court, it was noted that he had previously worked at the marijuana growing operation and had been living at the main residence on the property for several months leading up to the incident. He had stopped working at the property just one month prior to the tragic events.
After being apprehended in October 2020, Nguyen eventually pleaded guilty in May 2023. The court also received letters of support from Nguyen’s wife and adult children. Prior to this incident, Nguyen had a minor criminal record that did not involve any violent offenses.
Justice Michael Tammen’s ruling indicated that Nguyen, now 63 years old, will be eligible for parole in 12 years based on his age and health condition. The judge cited several aggravating factors in his decision, such as the violent nature of the crime, deliberate arson, evidence of premeditation, and the confinement of the victims.
Nguyen was also ordered to provide a DNA sample for the database, adhere to a lifetime ban on possessing certain weapons, and refrain from any communication with the surviving victims throughout his sentence. Despite the severity of his actions, the court documents mention that Nguyen expressed genuine remorse, which likely played a role in the sentencing decision.